Seasonal Distribution and Home-Range Patterns of Sitka Black-Tailed Deer on Admiralty Island, Southeast Alaska
Schoen JW and Kirchhoff MD. 1985. Seasonal Distribution and Home-Range Patterns of Sitka Black-Tailed Deer on Admiralty Island, Southeast Alaska. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 49(1):96-103
Fifty-one sitka black-tailed deer (Odocoileus sitkensis) were radiocollared and their movements monitored on Admiralty Island, southeast Alaska, from November 1978 through August 1982. An estimated 75% of the population made seasonal migrations from low-elevation winter ranges to high-elevation (usually subalpine or alpine) summer ranges; the remainder were year-round residents of low-elevation ranges. Migratory deer made extensive movements between summer and winter ranges and were located at higher elevations than resident deer during all seasons. In winter, the elevation of all deer locations averaged 124 m. During mild winter conditions (Jan-Mar 1981), deer were found at higher elevations than during more severe winter conditions (Jan-Mar 1982). The mean summer and winter home-range size of all radio-collared deer was 79 ha. Home-range size did not differ between summer and winter, males and females, or resident and migratory deer. With few exceptions, deer returned to the same summer and winter home ranges in consecutive years. In only one case did a deer move permanently from the watershed in which it was captured.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Schoen, John; Kirchhoff, Matthew
- Units
- GLBA , KLGO , SEAN , SITK
- Keywords
- Mammals, Migration, Movements, Odocoileus sitkensis, Radio Telemetry, Ungulates