Aggressive defensive behavior by free-ranging white-tailed deer

Journal of Mammalogy
By: , and 

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Abstract

Maternal investment plays a critical role in neonate survival, and adults can improve survival of offspring by defending them against predators. However, limited information exists documenting ungulate aggression toward humans in defense of neonates. During captures of neonates in spring 2007 and 2008 in north-central South Dakota, we documented 24 aggressive encounters by adult female and yearling male and female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) defending neonates. Eleven (45.8%) aggressive encounters included yearlings accompanying adult females. Mean ages and weights of neonates that were aggressively defended were greater (P < 0.0001) than ages and weights of those that were not; adults began protecting neonates at approximately 4 days of age. Male fawns were more likely (P = 0.013) to be defended than female fawns. Examination of our data suggests that sex- and age-biased maternal defensive behavior exists in white-tailed deer, and that deer biased maternal investment toward older, male neonates.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Aggressive defensive behavior by free-ranging white-tailed deer
Series title Journal of Mammalogy
DOI 10.1644/08-MAMM-A-360.1
Volume 90
Issue 5
Year Published 2009
Language English
Publisher Oxford Academic
Contributing office(s) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center
Description 6 p.
First page 1218
Last page 1223
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