White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) density estimates using motion-sensitive cameras: Flight 93 National Memorial and Friendship Hill National Historic Site
Lyon JP, Marshall M , Govan S, Yobp C. 2024. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) density estimates using motion-sensitive cameras: Flight 93 National Memorial and Friendship Hill National Historic Site. Science Report. NPS/SR—2024/192. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/2306049
This report summarizes a project to estimate white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) density in two Western Pennsylvania National Parks using a motion-sensitive camera survey protocol. The protocol was implemented in the fall of 2021 at Flight 93 National Memorial and the fall of 2023 at Flight 93 National Memorial and Friendship Hill National Historic Site. Over 12,000 photos of white-tailed deer were analyzed resulting in estimated densities ranging from 90–100 deer per mile2; well above ecologically sustainable level. The personnel costs to implement the protocol would range between $3,000 and $7,000 per year depending on park size, number of cameras, and number of photos in need of processing. One important shortcoming of this protocol is the lack of any measure of precision accompanying the density estimate. Numerous factors could and likely do influence the accuracy of this estimate. Managers and stakeholders would need to make decisions without knowing the uncertainty associated with the estimates should this protocol be utilized in the future.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Lyon, Joseph; Marshall, Matthew (Matt); Govan, Samuel; Yobp, Corrina
- Date of Issue
- 2024-09
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- DOI
- 10.36967/2306049
- Units
- FLNI , FRHI , NRSS