Evening Activities and Nearest-Neighbor Distances in Free-Ranging White-Tailed Deer

Abstract

Behavior of free-ranging white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) was studied in southeastern Indiana and southwestern Ohio. Distances between nearest neighbors within groups were short (70% were ⩽5 m), indicating tight group cohesion. Adult bucks were less tolerant of other individuals and maintained greater nearest-neighbor distances than adult does and fawns. Adult does spent more time alert than adult bucks and fawns. Fawns spent more time feeding than adult does. Adult does may be more alert to compensate for the lowered vigilance of their feeding fawn(s). The most common behavior sequence was feeding-alert-feeding. Behavior bouts were short ( ⩽ 10 s). The combination of short bout lengths and interspersed alert periods should allow early detection of predators.