Factors Affecting the Peak of White-Tailed Deer Fawning in Virginia
Mcginnes BS and Downing RL. 1977. Factors Affecting the Peak of White-Tailed Deer Fawning in Virginia. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 41(4):715-719
Birth dates of 503 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawns captured during a 10-year period at Radford Army Ammunition Plant, Dublin, Virginia, were found to be earlier in those years when the does had reached estrus presumably in better condition. Years of early mean birth dates were significantly correlated with high rainfall the previous May and with a low fawn survival rate the previous summer. Rainfall and snow cover during gestation and cloudiness and temperatures prior to conception were not significantly correlated with birth dates of fawns.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Mcginnes, Burd; Downing, Robert
- Units
- SHEN
- Keywords
- Animal Communities (Wildlife), Animal Studies, Fecundity, Research Report, White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)