Craters of the Moon National Monument And Preserve Deer Survey and Observations 2008

Munts, Michael

Mule deer surveys were performed during the spring and late summer of 2008. These included unstructured spring surveys as well as the systematic fall surveys in the north end of the monument. Systematic road surveys were continued on the loop road in addition to the usual informal count during May and June. The number of does continued to decline from the previous three year period. Numbers were about a third of the 15 year average. Observations of yearlings crashed with numbers about ten percent of the 15 year average. Over-winter survival of fawns was not calculated and reported due a very small and statistically skewed sample size. The fall survey recorded numbers that were half or less of the 15 year average for all age classes. The fawn to adult female ratio increased slightly to reach a 3 year high. This may indicates a slight increase in birth rates or an increase in early fawn survival. The total population estimate also showed a similar decrease and was less than half of the 15 year average. This was likely influenced by drought conditions continuing through most of the last five years. When the data was averaged into three year intervals the deer population shows a general pattern of decline since the mid 1980s and reaching its lowest point in the current period. The numbers of all age/sex classes have continued a decline started in 2000. The moose population in Little Cottonwood continues to remain stable with one pair of adults and one or two calves in a season. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has been augmenting elk herds in the vicinity of Bear Trap cave in the BLM portion of the monument. Although releases were completed in 2006 this herd has continued to expand with numerous sightings in the Preserve.

Craters of the Moon National Monument And Preserve Deer Survey and Observations 2008

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