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Assess Demographic and Physiological Status of Columbian Black-tailed Deer in Olympic National Park
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Columbian black-tailed deer (Ococoileus hemionus columbianus) and Roosevelt elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) are dominant features of coniferous forest systems of Olympic National Park, Washington. They profoundly influence forest landscapes and vegetative structure through herbivory, provide prey for healthy populations of cougar (Felis concolor)and black-bear (Ursus americanus), and once supported a population of gray wolves (Canis lupus) before wolves were extirpated in the 1920s. Biologists and managers on Washington's Olympic Peninsula, as throughout western Washington, are concerned about the potential population-level effects of increased observations over the last several years of emaciated deer with symptoms of excessive hair-loss.
This research will evaluate the use of modern statistical methods to improve upon pellet-group surveys as a means of estimating abundance of forest-dwelling cervid populations in Olympic NP. Specific objectives are to evaluate modern pellet-group survey methods, estimate abundance of deer and elk, identify factors influencing physical health of deer, and develop a program for long-term monitoring of the park's deer and elk populations.
Jenkins, K.J., Manly, B., 2008, A double-observer method for reducing bias in faecal pellet surveys of forest ungulates: Journal of Applied Ecology, v. 45, p. 1339-1348. [Highlight] [Abs] [FullText] Catalog No: 1717
Jenkins, Kurt J. - Research Wildlife Biologist
Phone: 360-565-3041
Email: kurt_jenkins@usgs.gov
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