Mule deer habitat use in the North Dakota Badlands
Jensen WF. 1992. Mule deer habitat use in the North Dakota Badlands. Prairie Naturalist. 24(2):97-107
Habitat use by adult female mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus) during summer and fall was studied in the prairie badlands of Billings County, ND, during May-December 1984-86. Movements of seven radio-collared does were monitored by use of hand-held yagi and null-peak antenna systems. Discrepancies in use of vegetation types between unmarked deer and radio-collared animals may reflect differential observability of unmarked deer by vegetation type. Radio- collared adult does fed in brush-complex vegetation types and slopes with a northerly aspect more than expected by chance during the summer. Grasslands were avoided by does as feeding sites during summer and fall. Bedding sites used by adult does appeared to be influenced by ambient temperature, with individuals associating with cooler areas in summer and slightly warmer microclimates in the late fall. Bedding sites used by adult does were also associated with arroyos of specific size and shape.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Jensen, William
- Units
- THRO
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, Animals, Billings County ND, Feeding, Food, Habitats, Inventory & Monitoring, Mammals, Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus), Observations, Plants, Radio Telemetry, Ungulates, Vegetation