White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawn risk from Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) predation during summer

Authors

  • L. David Mech United States Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, 8711 – 37th Street SE, Jamestown, North Dakota 58401-7317
  • Aaron Morris Natural Science and Environmental Education, Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota 55104
  • Shannon Barber-Meyer United States Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, 8711 – 37th Street SE, Jamestown, North Dakota 58401-7317

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v129i4.1758

Keywords:

Gray Wolf, Canis lupus, White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus, fawn, predation, hunting behaviour, radiotracking, Superior National Forest, Minnesota

Abstract

Little is known about how often various prey animals are at risk of predation by Gray Wolves (Canis lupus). We used a system to monitor the presence during the day of two radio-collared Gray Wolves within 2 km of a radio-collared White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) with a fawn or fawns in August 2013 in the Superior National Forest of northeastern Minnesota. We concluded that the fawn or fawns were at risk of predation by at least one wolf at least daily.

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Published

2016-01-30

Issue

Vol. 129 No. 4 (2015)

Section

Articles

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