Perceptions, concerns, and management of white-tailed deer among municipal officials

Edelblutte, Emilie; Gianotti, Anne G. Short; Connors, John P. Casellas

doi:10.1080/10871209.2021.1959963

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…However, ungulate management in North America is challenged by a multitude of anthropogenic and environmental threats that are impacting individuals, populations, and the ability of ungulates to move across the landscape [6]. Changes in habitat [7], physical barriers to movement [8], climate conditions [9,10], disease transmission [11], and predator communities [9] are of increasing concern to ungulate managers [12]. Of these, an improved understanding of the effects of changing climate conditions has been highlighted as a key information need [13][14][15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Existing evidence on the effects of climate variability and climate change on ungulates in North America: a systematic map

Malpeli,

Endyke,

Weiskopf

et al. 2024

Environ Evid

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Background Climate is an important driver of ungulate life-histories, population dynamics, and migratory behaviors. Climate conditions can directly impact ungulates via changes in the costs of thermoregulation and locomotion, or indirectly, via changes in habitat and forage availability, predation, and species interactions. Many studies have documented the effects of climate variability and climate change on North America’s ungulates, recording impacts to population demographics, physiology, foraging behavior, migratory patterns, and more. However, ungulate responses are not uniform and vary by species and geography. Here, we present a systematic map describing the abundance and distribution of evidence on the effects of climate variability and climate change on native ungulates in North America. Methods We searched for all evidence documenting or projecting how climate variability and climate change affect the 15 ungulate species native to the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Greenland. We searched Web of Science, Scopus, and the websites of 62 wildlife management agencies to identify relevant academic and grey literature. We screened English-language documents for inclusion at both the title and abstract and full-text levels. Data from all articles that passed full-text review were extracted and coded in a database. We identified knowledge clusters and gaps related to the species, locations, climate variables, and outcome variables measured in the literature. Review findings We identified a total of 674 relevant articles published from 1947 until September 2020. Caribou (Rangifer tarandus), elk (Cervus canadensis), and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were the most frequently studied species. Geographically, more research has been conducted in the western U.S. and western Canada, though a notable concentration of research is also located in the Great Lakes region. Nearly 75% more articles examined the effects of precipitation on ungulates compared to temperature, with variables related to snow being the most commonly measured climate variables. Most studies examined the effects of climate on ungulate population demographics, habitat and forage, and physiology and condition, with far fewer examining the effects on disturbances, migratory behavior, and seasonal range and corridor habitat. Conclusions The effects of climate change, and its interactions with stressors such as land-use change, predation, and disease, is of increasing concern to wildlife managers. With its broad scope, this systematic map can help ungulate managers identify relevant climate impacts and prepare for future changes to the populations they manage. Decisions regarding population control measures, supplemental feeding, translocation, and the application of habitat treatments are just some of the management decisions that can be informed by an improved understanding of climate impacts. This systematic map also identified several gaps in the literature that would benefit from additional research, including climate effects on ungulate migratory patterns, on species that are relatively understudied yet known to be sensitive to changes in climate, such as pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) and mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus), and on ungulates in the eastern U.S. and Mexico.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Existing evidence on the effects of climate variability and climate change on ungulates in North America: a systematic map

Malpeli,

Endyke,

Weiskopf

et al. 2024

Environ Evid

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“…In the U.S. state wildlife management agencies and their focus on recreational hunting have been unable to prevent or reduce deer populations to ecologically acceptable levels (Blossey et al, 2019;Reed et al, 2021;Nagy et al, 2022). Deer management itself, even without adding large predators to the mix, has led to pitched conflicts involving conservationists, residents, municipalities, farmers, ranchers, hunting advocates, animal rights and animal welfare interests with no easy resolution due to problems in the structure and governance of state wildlife agencies beholden to special interests (Frye, 2006;Cambronne, 2012;Sterba, 2012;Edelblutte et al, 2021). All sides in this conflict justify their positions by appealing to evidence regarding likely consequences (or lack thereof) in landscapes that harbor unprecedented numbers of deer and presently few but slowly increasingly numbers of large predators.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Myths, Wishful Thinking, and Accountability in Predator Conservation and Management in the United States

Blossey

Hare

2022

Front. Conserv. Sci.

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Large predators are thought of as ecological keystone species, posterchildren of conservation campaigns, and sought-after targets of tourists and photographers. At the same time, predators kill livestock and huntable animals, and occasionally people, triggering fears and antipathy among those living alongside them. Until the 1960’s government-sponsored eradication and persecution campaigns in the United States prioritized interests of livestock producers and recreational hunters, leading to eradication of wolves and bears over much of their range. Without large predators, subsidized by changes in agricultural practices and milder winters, ungulate populations erupted, triggering negative ecological impacts, economic damage, and human health crises (such as tick-borne diseases). Shifting societal preferences have ushered in more predator-friendly, but controversial wildlife policies, from passively allowing range expansion to purposeful reintroductions (such as release of wolves in Yellowstone National Park). Attempts to restore wolves or mountain lions in the U.S. and protecting coyotes appear to enjoy strong public support, but many state wildlife agencies charged with managing wildlife, and recreational hunters continue to oppose such efforts, because they perceive predators as competitors for huntable animals. There may be compelling reasons for restoring predators or allowing them to recolonize their former ranges. But if range expansion or intentional releases of large predators do not result in ecosystem recovery, reduced deer populations, or Lyme disease reductions, conservationists who have put their reputation on the line and assured decision makers and the public of the important functional role of large predators may lose public standing and trust. Exaggerated predictions by ranchers and recreational hunters of greatly reduced ungulate populations and rampant livestock killing by large carnivores may lead to poaching and illegal killing threatening recovery of predator populations. How the return of large carnivores may affect vegetation and successional change, ungulate population size, other biota, livestock and human attitudes in different landscapes has not been appropriately assessed. Societal support and acceptance of living alongside predators as they expand their range and increase in abundance requires development and monitoring of social, ecological and economic indicators to assess how return of large predators affects human and animal and plant livelihoods.

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Socio-Political and Ecological Dimensions of Municipal Wildlife Management

Edelblutte,

Casellas Connors,

Cavallo

et al. 2023

Society & Natural Resources

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Perceptions, concerns, and management of white-tailed deer among municipal officials

Cited by 5 publications

References 20 publications

Existing evidence on the effects of climate variability and climate change on ungulates in North America: a systematic map

Existing evidence on the effects of climate variability and climate change on ungulates in North America: a systematic map

Myths, Wishful Thinking, and Accountability in Predator Conservation and Management in the United States

Socio-Political and Ecological Dimensions of Municipal Wildlife Management

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