Some ecological aspects of the white-tailed deer on Isle au Haut, Maine

Baird, John

From the abstract: "The relationship between the deer population and the available browse was studied on Isle au Haut, Maine from September, 1964 to December, 1965. The objectives were to determine the number of deer on the island, to evaluate the existing habitat conditions, and to measure the influence of the deer upon the environment. Strip censuses, drive counts, and direct aerial counts were employed to determine the number of deer on the island. A population estimate of 257 animals, based on the Hayne strip census method, was considered to best approximate the true population level. The overstory, understory, and shrub strata were sampled by the Bitterlich point sampling, Shafer twig-count, and clip and weigh methods, respectively. The total amount of available browse for each acre of the island was 1,334 pounds. However, cedar was the only preferred browse species present in a sufficient amount (average of six pounds per acre) to contribute to the available food for each acre of the island. Deer subsisted to a large extent on food sources other than woody vegetation. The existing density of approximately one deer per 25 acres has resulted in serious habitat deterioration. A continuation of the present density will prolong the detrimental effects both on the vegetation and the deer."