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Some Winter Relations of the White‐Tailed Deer to the Forests in North Central Massachusetts
Author(s) -
Hosley N. W.,
Ziebarth R. K.
Publication year - 1935
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1932585
Subject(s) - odocoileus , white (mutation) , animal food , ecology , geography , ecological succession , human settlement , biology , archaeology , biochemistry , gene , food science
Although the white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus Virginianus, has been used by the white man as an important source of food and leather since the first New England settlements and is the only large game animal to maintain itself following the settlement of the region, little exact knowledge of its habits and requirements has been recorded. Considerable popular literature is to be found on the species, but little is of a specific nature. Within the past few years a beginning of studies has been made in Pennsylvania (Clepper, '31; Forbes and Overholts, '31; Forbes and Bechdel, '31; Frontz, '30) and in the Adirondacks (Townsend, Smith and Spiker, '33). The habits of the animal vary so widely in different regions that local studies are necessary to make an intelligent approach to its management. With this in mind the present study was undertaken as a start toward determining some of the factors necessary for the best local development of the species and of the means by which forestry can contribute to the attainment of this development. Specifically the objects were to find for north central Massachusetts (1) what food was eaten by the white-tailed deer during winter, (2) how its feeding habits were correlated with ecological succession, (3) whether, preferences were shown for various forest types for food or shelter, (4) the general characteristics and habits of the animal. The study had two main divisions: field observations and stomach analysis. The general field practice was to follow the deer tracks on snow, examining and tallying all feeding along the route. All forest types passed through were noted, as were cases of bedding, loafing, etc. The stomachs were secured principally during the hunting season in early December, with some over the period from November to April. These were tagged as collected, a standard mimeographed form was filled out recording pertinent data for each, and they were placed in a formalin solution until