Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T22:17:04.374Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Behavioural Responses of Park Red and Fallow Deer to Disturbance and Effects on Population Performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

J Langbein  and
R J Putman
J Langbein
Affiliation:
Deer Management Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Southampton School of Biological Sciences, Bassett Crescent East, Southampton, UK S09 3TU
R J Putman
Affiliation:
Deer Management Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Southampton School of Biological Sciences, Bassett Crescent East, Southampton, UK S09 3TU
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Within two London parks, Richmond and Bushy, both subject to high public visitor pressure, behavioural observations were undertaken to investigate patterns of habitat use by red and fallow deer populations, and to determine the response of the deer to human disturbance. Potentially disturbing events were considered as: i. people present within a distance of < 50m; ii. people present within 50m accompanied by a dog on a lead; iii dogs within 50m off the lead; iv. people ‘crowding’ the deer - approaching directly and deliberately for photographs or closer observation; v. actual chases by a dog of the deer group or a member of that group.

All the above levels of disturbance caused a measurable change in the immediate behaviour patterns of the deer - reflected in increased levels of vigilance. Females responded more strongly than males of either species. However, the effects were relatively minor and transient in the great majority of cases, with animals resuming their normal activity very quickly after the encounter.

Overall daily time-budgets did not differ significantly between undisturbed days and days when disturbance levels were high; nor were any effects apparent on patterns of habitat use by the deer or in forcing the animals to change habitat more frequently. Further, throughout our studies there was no evidence that levels of disturbance caused by public access had any deleterious effects on body-weights or overwinter mortality.

Keywords

animal welfaredeer parksdisturbancefallow deerpopulation performancered deer
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 1 , Issue 1 , February 1992 , pp. 19 - 38
Copyright
© 1992 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

References

Aitchison, J 1982 Statistical analyses of compositional data. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society B 44: 139–177Google Scholar
Bullock, D J, Kerridge, F J, Hanlon, A, Arnold, R 1990 Responses of Fallow Deer and Red Deer to Disturbance in Bradgate Park and Wollaton Park 28pp. (Report to Universities Federation for Animal Welfare)Google Scholar
Bullock, D J, Kerridge, F J, Hanlon, A, Arnold, R Short term responses of deer to recreational disturbance in two deer parks. Journal of Zoology (London) in pressGoogle Scholar
Douglas, E A 1991 An assessment of the impact of the November Classic badge event 1988 on the New Forest. 26pp. British Orienteering Federation: MatlockGoogle Scholar
Freddy, D J, Bronaugh, W M, Fowler, M C 1986 Responses of mule deer to disturbance by persons afoot and snowmobiles. Wildlife Society Bulletin 14: 63–68Google Scholar
Hartfiel, W, Dissen, J, Pheiffer, J 1985 Energetische Untersuchungen an Reh und Schaf mit hilfe der quantitativen thermografie zur beurteiling des energiebedarfs im winter. Zietschrift Jagdwissenschaft 31: 34–41Google Scholar
Humphries, R E, Smith, R H, Sibly, R M 1989 Effects of human disturbance on the welfare of park fallow deer. Deer 7: 458–63Google Scholar
Jepperson, J L The disturbing effects of orienteering and hunting on roe deer Capreolus capreolus. Danish Review of Game Biology 13: 1–24Google Scholar
Langbein, J, Putman, R J 1991 Reproductive success of female fallow deer in relation to age and condition. In Brown, R (ed) Biology of Deer, pp 293–299. Springer Verlag: New YorkGoogle Scholar
Lavoie, J G 1986 Le developpement recreatif: problematique et impacts. Institut pour la Recherche et l’Education en Matiere de Conservation. Sainte-Foy: QuebecGoogle Scholar
Lawton, J 1987 Stress in deer at Dunham Massey Park. Deer 7: 188Google Scholar
Liddle, M J 1991 Recreational ecology: effects of trampling cm plants and corals. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 6: 13–17CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Putman, R J, Langbein, J 1991a Effects of stocking density, feeding and herd management on survival in park deer. In Brown, R (ed) Biology of Deer. Springer Verlag: New YorkGoogle Scholar
Putman, R J, Langbein, J 1991b Factors Affecting Performance of Deer in Parks. Report PECD 7/2/65. Department of the Environment: LondonGoogle Scholar
SOF no date. The Effects of Orienteering Events on Elk and Roe Deer. Swedish Orienteering Federation Report snv pm 1418Google Scholar
Sokal, R R, Rolff, F J 1981 Biometry (3rd edition). W H Freeman: OxfordGoogle Scholar
Tyler, N J C 1991 Short-term behavioural responses of Svalbard reindeer to direct provocation by a snowmobile. Biological Conservation 56: 179–194CrossRefGoogle Scholar
van der Zande, A N, Berkhuizen, J C, van Latesteijn, H C, ter Keurs, W J, Poppelaars, A J 1984 Impact of outdoor recreation on the density of a number of breeding bird species in woods adjacent to urban residential areas. Biological Conservation 30: 1–39CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilkinson, G S 1986 Social grooming in the common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus. Animal Behaviour 34: 1880–1889CrossRefGoogle Scholar