White-tailed deer population characteristics and landscape use patterns in southwestern Lower Michigan

Previous studies on white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus ) movement patterns and population dynamics in Michigan were conducted in the northern part of the state while similar data are limited for southern Michigan. The goal of this study was to gather scientific data on the ecology of deer in southwestern Lower Michigan; specifically, to quantify how landscape characteristics may influence deer movement patterns and survival. The study area was characterized as an agro-forest ecosystem dominated by 54% row crops and 29% upland deciduous forests. Fifty-nine deer (42 females, 17 males) were captured and radio-collared during the winters of 2001 and 2002. During the spring/summer capture season, 75 fawns (40 females, 35 males) were captured and radio-collared. Seventeen of 75 fawns died from varying causes during the study, and 26 of 53 winter captured deer, used for analysis, died. Annual fawn and winter captured deer survival probabilities ranged from 0.75--0.76 and 0.40--0.77, respectively. Typical fawn (<7 months old) and winter captured deer annual home ranges were 63 ha and 158 ha, respectively. Ten winter captured deer dispersed from their capture sites and 1 deer exhibited migratory behavior associated with hunting pressure. Study results can aid in developing, refining, and validating deer population models as well as devising and balancing white-tailed deer population management decisions based on the ecology of deer and the diversity of cover types and uses in southwest Lower Michigan.