Tracking White-tailed Deer

 

Tracking White-tailed Deer

Written by Kristine Manganelli (Somerset County 4-H Coordinator)

Adult female white-tailed deer and fawn

Adult female white-tailed deer and fawn

I am in disbelief that it is already September! How did that happen? No matter the joys or tragedies that occur in our human existence, nature keeps moving and changing around us. You may have noticed the sun setting a bit earlier, the evenings and mornings are now chilly, your garden is ever so slightly beginning to wither and yellow. Yes, the inevitable end of summer is here. For those of you who live for summer, I’m sorry that it has to go. But for us Autumn lovers, this is the best time of year!

While it is not officially Autumn until September 22, we will start to see first glimpses of the many changes the fall season brings to the natural world. Animals prepare for the winter season ahead, the lush greenery becomes less abundant, and much of our day turns to darkness. This can seem bleak, but try to notice the cycles happening outside, right before our eyes. This fall, I encourage you to take time to observe the wildlife you see in your yard and on hikes.

Something that is not a shocking site for a New Jerseyan, is white-tailed deer. At this time of year, the super cute fawns are losing their spots and growing into their winter coats. In fact, all deer grow in a thicker, grayer coats that allow them to blend in perfectly with woodland surroundings. Their white markings, including the signature white tail, are perfect for camouflage in the snow. Deer are considered edge species, as they tend to live where forested areas meet open spaces like farms and suburbs; two signature aspects of our state.

Starting in April, adult male deer (bucks), grow antlers that are shed at the end of winter, so don’t worry if you find one. Consider it a treasure! In fact, antlers hold a lot of significance in the deer world. Bucks will use their antlers to spar or fight each other to prove dominance. They also mark their territory by rubbing their antlers on trees. If you see scratches on trees at deer level, perhaps you’ve stumbled on someone’s territory. If you regularly see deer in your yard, it is likely they are members of the same family. The home range of deer tends to be only about 1 square mile, one of the smallest ranges of wild animals.

Keep observing as fall progresses, and you will notice many more deer because of the rutting, or breeding season. During this time, deer are more active as bucks attempt to find mates, and does (adult female deer) are in heat. Rutting lasts from September through January, peaking in November. The cooler weather and shorter daylight hours seem to trigger this natural process. Does will give birth the next Spring.

Adult male white-tailed deer

Adult male white-tailed deer

Deer are very timid, so chances are they will run if they see or smell humans nearby. Although in places with dense human populations like New Jersey, the deer have gained confidence and will enter your yard, especially if you have a garden with vegetables or flowers that they love to chomp! They are foraging herbivores, seemingly eating anything and everything green. The best time to spot deer is at dawn or dusk when they come out to feed.

Around here, deer have no natural predators. If you read the last post about wolves at Lakota Wolf Preserve, you may remember that they are no longer found in New Jersey. You may also remember that the wolves are fed deer meat. In the wild, wolves are one of the main predators of deer.

Since we no longer have a population of deer predators like wolves and bobcats in our area, this means the deer population has gotten very large! It may seem cruel, but in nature, the food chain of predators and prey is the how the ecosystem stays healthy and in check. If even one of these predators is removed from the equation, their prey is able to continue growing into problematic numbers. Unlike many of the species covered by this blog, deer are not endangered but overpopulated.

Overpopulation of deer in New Jersey is bad for agriculture, causes increased numbers of car accidents, spread of tick-borne illness, and destruction of the forest ecosystem. When the population is in healthy numbers, deer help increase diversity in the ecosystem. As they feed on the dominant plants in the habitat, they create space for less competitive plants to have a chance.

But as the population becomes too large, the deer over-browse plants to a point where abundance of tree seedlings and saplings, shrub and herbaceous layers in the forest all decline and eventually disappear. The now barren open space on the forest floor is perfect for nonnative species to thrive.

The upset balance prevents the forest from naturally regenerating. This results in less leaf litter on the forest floor, decreasing soil quality, and increasing soil erosion. A nonfunctioning forest also causes problems for birds and other species that depend on forest habitat for shelter and food. Methods are in place to bring the numbers down to a healthier population.

Despite these downfalls, I still appreciate deer and hope you do too! Even though I see them all the time, I am always awed by their beauty. Sometimes while hiking, I don’t even know there is a deer nearby because of their ability to be perfectly quiet and still. With such a peaceful presence, I know they mean no harm.

Get Outside! In New Jersey, chances are high that white-tailed deer pass through your yard. Using this Animal Track Guide, get outside and search for deer tracks! I’ll give you a hint, Whitetail Deer is first track in the second row. Can you guess the other animal tracks on the chart? Maybe you can also locate raccoon, turkey, or fox prints in your yard!

Sources:

 
Somerset County 4-H