Survival Estimates of White-tailed Deer Fawns at Fort Rucker, Alabama

Abstract

Decreases in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawn recruitment have been noted at several locations across the Southeast. Understanding the reason for these decreases is important for management of deer populations. We monitored fawns from birth until 6 mo to examine age and cause specific mortality rates, at Fort Rucker, Alabama. During 2009–2010, 14 fawns were captured immediately after birth and monitored, with three surviving until 6 mo of age. Six of 7 predation events were attributed to coyotes (Canis latrans), and we determined coyote density in the study area during 2010, using DNA isolated from 44 coyote scats, to be 0.40 coyotes/km2. This study, like other recent studies in the Southeast, has found low fawn recruitment seems to be driven by coyote predation.