Regional White-tailed Deer Mortality due to Predation and Non-Predation Events

• Kali Reed

  Juniata College

  Author

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawns in the United States are vulnerable to mortality. Previous studies have found that the leading cause of mortality for fawns is predation. This study conducted a meta-analysis using previous data about fawn mortality due to predation and non-predation causes in Texas, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. A total of 121 fawn deaths were categorized into predation and non-predation events and analyzed. It was hypothesized that the mortality rates of White-Tailed Deer fawns due to predation and non-predation events does not vary between South Central, Northeastern, and Midwestern regions of the United States. To test this a 2 by 3 chi-squared test was conducted and it was concluded that there is marginal significance and a p-value of 0.051403. These findings support that there is no statistical difference between predation and non-predation fawn deaths in Texas, Pennsylvania, and Illinois despite factors such as variations in predators, deer populations, and climate. These findings have the potential to aid in the conservation and management of white-tailed deer populations in the United States. Future research could have the potential to create methods to protect fawns from predation caused mortality.

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