White-Tailed Deer Habitat and Cottage Development in Central Ontario

Abstract

Winter habitat used by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in central Ontario during winters 1978 and 1979 was quantified for 4 functional habitat types: travel lanes, night-bedding areas, daybedding areas, and feeding sites. These functional habitat types were separated on the basis of canopy closure, coniferous and deciduous browse units, vegetation volume, and numbers of dead branches, forming the basis for a model of deer habitat quality. Cottage development in areas used by deer reduced the quality of winter habitat. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 47(3):605-612 White-tailed deer in central Ontario have recently experienced drastic population declines (King 1976, Ont. Minist. Nat. Resour. 1978). This region is also experiencing an increased demand for lakeshore cottage development and recreational activity. Many of the remaining winter concentration areas used by deer include large sections of predominantly coniferous lakeshores. Early analyses of deer wintering areas relied on the proximity of food and cover (Webb 1940) and on general forest cover type (Christensen 1962). Later, distinct feeding and sheltering areas, and joint feeding-shelter areas were distinguished (Telfer 1967, Huot 1974). Stocker and Gilbert (1977) assessed winter habitats for key habitat qualities, including climatic shelter, night and day bedding, feeding, escape cover, and mobility. Our objectives were to measure habitat parameters in terms of their usefulness to white-tailed deer and to understand how wintering habitat is affected by cottage development. We thank M. Heimberger and D. Mojzes for aid in data collection, and M. Wilton, D. Brooks, C. Douglas, and D. Atkinson for cooperation and advice. F. Gilbert, J. Green, G. Teleki, C. MacInnes, D. Voight, R. Bramwell, and 3 anonymous reviewers provided helpful comments. The Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing provided financial assistance.