Using camera-trapping methods to estimate the white-tailed deer population in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Bartnick, Travis

Issues associated with overabundant white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the Upper Great Lakes region pose many challenges to wildlife professionals and natural resource managers. In addition to human-deer conflicts (e.g., crop damage, increased vehicular collisions), overabundant deer impact ecological processes by impairing tree regeneration and succession of native vegetation, reducing biodiversity in the forest understory, and changing structure and composition of forests. With an increasing concern for deer expanding their range into historically unoccupied habitat, wildlife managers are in need of additional tools to effectively monitor population parameters in remote areas. We developed a technique to estimate the size of white-tailed deer populations using digital remote infrared-triggered cameras in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. We did not use bait or attractant at camera sites and instead placed cameras at high-use trail intersections. We developed a remote camera simulation to estimate a correction factor in an attempt to address heterogeneous detection rates observed in our antlered:antlerless ratios. We were unable to fully assess the applicability of the simulated correction factor due to the intensive deer removal efforts that took place in the study area. Potential variation among independent observers in determining the identification of adult antlered individuals may lead to an overestimate of the population. The development of this camera trapping technique shows much promise as an additional tool for researchers and managers, but remains hindered by study design issues and requires additional testing. This is part of Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Environmental Protection Agency Project #92.

Using camera-trapping methods to estimate the white-tailed deer population in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Collections