Advisor(s)

Katherine Krynak, PhD
Ohio Northern University
Environmental & Field Biology, Science, Technology, and Mathematics
k-krynak@onu.edu

Robert Verb, PhD
Ohio Northern University
Environmental & Field Biology, Science, Technology, and Mathematics
r-verb@onu.edu

Leslie Riley, PhD
Ohio Northern University
Environmental & Field Biology, Science, Technology, and Mathematics
l-riley.1@onu.edu

Document Type

Poster

Location

ONU McIntosh Center; Activities Room

Start Date

22-4-2022 10:00 AM

End Date

22-4-2022 11:00 AM

Abstract

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) abundance can negatively affect native plant communities and ecosystem health. In Ohio, deer management protocols generally target an abundance of 5-34 deer/square mile, a range scaled according to available habitat, land use, food sources, and predator presence among other factors. A three-night visual encounter survey (January 14-16, 2022) of Ohio Northern University’s Tidd-Oakes Farm (TOF) property was conducted using infrared scopes. The number and location of deer was recorded and mapped to estimate deer abundance using 0.79 mile2 buffer zones in ArcGIS. This buffer size was used as an estimate of deer home range (post rut). The surveyed area at TOF was calculated to be roughly 2.4 mile2. An average of 20 deer were observed each night of the survey at a density of 8.45 deer/mile2. In comparison to other regions in Ohio, this value is relatively low considering the abundance of suitable habitat on and surrounding the property. Therefore our next step is to determine if the abundance of deer at TOF is in fact negatively affecting the plant communities on the property. To this end we have designed an exclosure experiment to assess deer browse pressure on sensitive plant communities, such as spring ephemerals. Ultimately our surveys and exclosure experiments will inform our management strategies and aid in the development of hunting protocols for the property. These surveys and experiments will be continued in future years to continuously monitor deer abundance and educate management strategies long-term.

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Apr 22nd, 10:00 AM Apr 22nd, 11:00 AM

Developing deer management strategies based on calculated deer abundance

ONU McIntosh Center; Activities Room

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) abundance can negatively affect native plant communities and ecosystem health. In Ohio, deer management protocols generally target an abundance of 5-34 deer/square mile, a range scaled according to available habitat, land use, food sources, and predator presence among other factors. A three-night visual encounter survey (January 14-16, 2022) of Ohio Northern University’s Tidd-Oakes Farm (TOF) property was conducted using infrared scopes. The number and location of deer was recorded and mapped to estimate deer abundance using 0.79 mile2 buffer zones in ArcGIS. This buffer size was used as an estimate of deer home range (post rut). The surveyed area at TOF was calculated to be roughly 2.4 mile2. An average of 20 deer were observed each night of the survey at a density of 8.45 deer/mile2. In comparison to other regions in Ohio, this value is relatively low considering the abundance of suitable habitat on and surrounding the property. Therefore our next step is to determine if the abundance of deer at TOF is in fact negatively affecting the plant communities on the property. To this end we have designed an exclosure experiment to assess deer browse pressure on sensitive plant communities, such as spring ephemerals. Ultimately our surveys and exclosure experiments will inform our management strategies and aid in the development of hunting protocols for the property. These surveys and experiments will be continued in future years to continuously monitor deer abundance and educate management strategies long-term.