Development of chemosensory attractants for white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus)

Abstract

White-tailed deer ( Odocoileus spp.) overpopulate many areas of the United States. Browse damage to agricultural crops, forest regeneration and landscaping can be severe. Human and animal health also are threatened by Lyme disease, which is spread by the deer tick ( Ixodes dammini). Although sterilants to reduce and/or slow the growth of deer populations and vaccines against Lyme disease may soon become available, efficient and economical techniques to inoculate large numbers of deer have not been developed. Oral baits represent one promising possibility. In experiment 1, salt blocks and several olfactory lures were evaluated as potential lures for use in deer baits. Plain salt blocks were attractive and odour stimuli such as acorn, apple and peanut butter significantly enhanced effectiveness. Apple was the best stimulus in an old field; peanut butter and acorn were the best stimuli in a bottomland habitat. In experiment 2, blocks of minerals, salt, molasses, and mineral-molasses were presented; all were scented with apple extract. Mineral blocks were the most attractive, followed by salt blocks and mineral-molasses blocks; molasses blocks were the least attractive. In experiment 3, mixtures of apple, acorn and peanut butter extracts were presented with mineral blocks. None of the combinations was more attractive than the others and none was more attractive than mineral blocks presented with apple extract only.