Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) mortality in relation to fodder harvest in agricultural landscape

Abstract In the agricultural landscape, thousands of animals are killed yearly as a result of agricultural machinery innovation, mostly because of a higher harvesting speed and wider cutting bars. Harvesting machines besides predation by red fox (Vulpes vulpes L.) on roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) in the intensively managed cultural landscape are the most crucial factor in fawn mortality. This article offers an evaluation of the mostly used preventive methods, which aim to drive roe deer does along with their fawns out of fodder meadows prepared for harvest in the Czech Republic. Evaluation of efficiency and effectiveness of the different methods was made based on the questionnaire survey published in a professional hunting journal. The assessment of responses from a survey was followed by a field-based investigation conducted before fodder harvesting. The devices studied for efficiency were acoustic, optical and scent deterrents in comparison to the traditional search method combined with volunteers and hunting dogs. The results show differences in the number of fawns saved per hectare. A significant difference was found only between the optical deterrent method (0.4 fawns saved per hectare) and traditional search method (0.09 fawns saved per hectare). This study found no substantial difference among various deterring devices in terms of their effectiveness in reducing the mortality of roe deer fawns. Thus, it is important to explore the innovative methods in the future that can work most effectively for saving not only deer fawns, but also other game animals in the cultural landscape.

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Extensive Orchards in the Agricultural Landscape: Effective Protection against Fraying Damage Caused by Roe Deer

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11133738 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (13) ◽

pp. 3738

Author(s):

Petr Marada ◽

Jan Cukor ◽

Rostislav Linda ◽

Zdeněk Vacek ◽

Stanislav Vacek ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cost Efficiency ◽

Agricultural Landscape ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Roe Deer ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

Southeastern Part ◽

Plastic Tube ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

The Mean ◽

Observed Damage

The objective of this research was to determine the efficiency of different types of protective barriers and how they protect against fraying damage in extensive fruit tree orchards. Orchards in open agricultural land are the target of fraying damage caused by roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.). We assessed the effectiveness of four protective barriers: a rabbit-proof fence, a standard plastic tube commonly used in forestry, and an innovative plastic tube—variants with and without an additional rendering fat application. The study was situated in three extensive orchards in the southeastern part of Moravia in the Czech Republic. We analyzed the ratio of damaged trees, stem circumference damage, the length and height of damage on tree stems, the time periods with the most observed damage, and finally, the economic efficiency of each studied barrier. Most of the damage was observed in April and July. The most effective protective barrier was the innovative tube with rendering fat application (up to 100%) followed closely by the innovative tube without rendering fat application (95%). The standard plastic tube had an effectiveness of 49%, while the rabbit-proof fence was the least effective at 25%. In terms of the mean damage-lengths on tree stems, we found no significant differences between the rabbit-proof fence and the standard plastic tubes (21–22 cm). The usage of the innovative plastic tube without rendering fat reduced the average damage-length by half (10 cm) as compared to standard types (rabbit-proof fence, standard tube) of protection. The damage-heights on tree stems showed no significant differences among all variants (53–58 cm from the ground). Our analysis of economic parameters showed that rabbit-proof fencing had the worst cost efficiency, while the innovative tubes without rendering fat, had the best cost efficiency. We recommend starting the installation of protective barriers on trees in March, since we recorded relatively high activity of male roe deer in the following months.

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Predation by red fox on European roe deer fawns in relation to age, sex, and birth date

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z04-011 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 82 (3) ◽

pp. 416-422 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Anders Jarnemo ◽

Olof Liberg ◽

Steffan Lockowandt ◽

Agneta Olsson ◽

Kjell Wahlström

Keyword(s):

Agricultural Landscape ◽

Red Fox ◽

Roe Deer ◽

Mixed Forest ◽

Total Mortality ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

Predation Rate ◽

Birth Date ◽

Birth Peak ◽

Overall Mortality

Mortality in radio-marked European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus (Linnaeus, 1758)) neonates was studied during 14 years in a mixed forestagricultural landscape in Sweden. A total of 233 fawns were marked. Births were synchronized, with 79% occurring during 25 days and a peak between 25 May and 7 June encompassing 62% of the births. Overall mortality was 42%, but in three single years, it exceeded 85%. Predation by red fox (Vulpes vulpes Desmarest, 1820) accounted for 81% of total mortality. The effects of age, sex, and time of birth on the vulnerability to predation were analysed. Fawns born just after the birth peak had the lowest predation risk. Predation rate was highest for the fawns that had the very earliest or the very latest birth dates. Predation thereby seems to strengthen the birth synchrony in roe deer. Contrary to earlier published findings, there was no difference in susceptibility to predation between the sexes. Also differing from earlier findings was that predation rate was highest during the first week of life and declined thereafter almost linearly. The majority of the fawns (85%) were killed before 30 days of age and 98% before 40 days. Different types of landscapes may explain the discrepancies between our study and earlier findings.

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Response of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) to seasonal and local changes in dietary energy content and quality

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an19375 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 60 (10) ◽

pp. 1315

Author(s):

Andreas König ◽

Martina Hudler ◽

Sarah-Alica Dahl ◽

Carmen Bolduan ◽

Daniel Brugger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Agricultural Landscape ◽

Roe Deer ◽

Energy Content ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

Fibre Content ◽

Energy Concentration ◽

Crude Fibre ◽

Forest Habitat ◽

Natural Diet ◽

Agricultural Habitat

Context In terms of their nutritional physiology, roe deer have been called ‘concentrate selectors’. This implies that they select proteins in their diet and are not able to digest fibre. It is, thus, suggested that in an agricultural landscape, they are unable to digest the high fibre content of arable crops and, thus, suffer and need to be given supplementary feed. Aims Our aim was to determine the nutrient composition and energy content of the roe deer diet in an agricultural habitat compared with that in a natural forest habitat. Methods Rumen contents of 245 roe deer were collected to represent each month of the year for 3 years, weighed, and analysed by standard methods for nutrient and fibre content. Key results Roe deer in the agricultural habitat had rumen contents with significantly higher metabolisable energy (ME) concentrations, with a median of 6.2 MJ ME/kg DM, than did roe deer in the forest habitat, where the median was 5.4 MJ ME/kg DM. The mass of rumen contents in the forest habitat was, on average, 240 g higher than that in the agricultural habitat. Roe deer in the forest habitat compensate for the lower energy concentration in their natural diet by increasing their food intake. The concentration in the agricultural habitat is a result of the higher proportion of easily digestible carbohydrates in the diet. The concentration of crude protein in the rumen contents did not differ statistically between the two areas. In both habitats, the mean crude fibre concentration varied between 24% DM and 34% DM, and was significantly higher in the forest. The concentration of crude fibre selected by the roe deer is similar to the concentration of crude fibre known to be selected by red deer and fallow deer (intermediate feeders) and mouflon (a grazer) (Hofmann 1989). Conclusions The term ‘concentrate selector’ should be replaced by ‘selector’ to avoid misinterpretations. Energy shortfalls were not observed in either of the populations during the study period. Implications Supplemental feeding was not necessary to maintain the population.

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Ticks on game animals in the fragmented agricultural landscape of western Poland

Parasitology Research ◽

10.1007/s00436-021-07132-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 120 (5) ◽

pp. 1781-1788

Author(s):

Olaf Ciebiera ◽

Andżelina Łopińska ◽

Grzegorz Gabryś

Keyword(s):

Cervus Elaphus ◽

Red Deer ◽

Agricultural Landscape ◽

Roe Deer ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

Dermacentor Reticulatus ◽

Medical Problems ◽

Haemaphysalis Concinna ◽

First Time ◽

Game Animals

AbstractTicks (Acari: Ixodida) are well known external parasites of game animals that cause serious veterinary and medical problems. The occurrence and geographical distribution of different species of ticks in Western Poland have changed over the last decades. The purpose of the present study was to determine the species spectrum and prevalence of ticks parasitizing three species of game animals, the Eurasian wild boar Sus scrofa L., red deer Cervus elaphus L., and roe deer Capreolus capreolus (L.) in two hunting districts in Lubuskie Province. In addition, the distribution of ticks on the host’s body and the intensity of infestation were determined. Ticks were collected from dead animals during the hunting seasons in 2013 and 2014, over the periods from May to June and from August to December. In total, 286 specimens were examined: 138 Eurasian wild boars, 8 red deers, and 140 roe deers. Altogether, 1891 ticks were collected. Three species of ticks were determined: Ixodes ricinus (L.), Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius, 1794), and Haemaphysalis concinna (C.L. Koch, 1844). H. concinna was recorded for the first time in Lubuskie Province.

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Water requirements as a bottleneck in the reintroduction of European roe deer to the southern edge of its range

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z07-098 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 85 (11) ◽

pp. 1182-1192 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Arian D. Wallach ◽

Moshe Inbar ◽

Michael Scantlebury ◽

John R. Speakman ◽

Uri Shanas

Keyword(s):

Roe Deer ◽

Free Water ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

Feasibility Studies ◽

Water Source ◽

Success Rates ◽

Water Requirements ◽

Ecological Requirements ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Drinking Frequency

Success rates of reintroduction programs are low, often owing to a lack of knowledge of site-specific ecological requirements. A reintroduction program of European roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus (L., 1758)) in a dry Mediterranean region in Israel provides an opportunity to study the bottleneck effect of water requirements on a mesic-adapted species. Four does were hand-reared and released in a 10 ha site consisting of an early succession scrubland and a mature oak forest. We measured daily energy expenditure (DEE) and water turnover (WTO) using the doubly labeled water technique during summer and winter. DEE was similar in the summer and winter, but there was a significant difference in WTO and in the source of gained water. In winter, WTO was 3.3 L/day, of which 67% was obtained from vegetation. In summer, WTO dropped to 2.1 L/day, of which only 20% was obtained from the diet and 76% was gained from drinking. When the water source was moved to a nonpreferred habitat, drinking frequency dropped significantly, but water consumption remained constant. In a dry Mediterranean environment, availability of free water is both a physiological contraint and a behavioral constraint for roe deer. This study demonstrates the importance of physiological and behavioral feasibility studies for reintroduction programs.

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Use of aerial thermography to reduce mortality of roe deer fawns before harvest

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.6923 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. e6923 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jan Cukor ◽

Jan Bartoška ◽

Jan Rohla ◽

Jan Sova ◽

Antonín Machálek

Keyword(s):

Agricultural Landscape ◽

Roe Deer ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

Field Research ◽

Early Morning ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Limiting Factors ◽

Imaging Device ◽

Short Time Span ◽

Short Time

In agricultural landscape, there are thousands of young wild animals killed every year. Their deaths are caused mostly by agricultural fieldworks during spring harvest. Among the affected animals there are also fawns of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), which react to danger by pressing themselves against the ground in order to be protected from predators. There were various methods tested in the past aimed at decreasing roe deer mortality caused by agriculture machinery with varied levels of success. This contribution presents technology that documents the possibility of searching for fawns with a thermal imaging device carried by an unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). The results are based on field research that estimated the ideal height of flight being ±40 meters above ground. If the climatic conditions are favourable, it is possible to monitor and mark fawn locations using GPS coordinates in an area of about 14 ha in 25 minutes, which is the average flight time of UAV on one battery charge. The thermo-camera is very reliable in finding fawns in early morning hours (4 to 6 a.m.) when there is the highest temperature contrast between the searched object and its surroundings. The main limiting factors are climatic conditions and the short time span in which the thermo-camera can be used. If the basic requirements are met, the rate of successful fawn detection can be even up to 100%. An undisputed advantage of this method is the possibility of involvement of local gamekeepers. Thus the agricultural fieldworks are not interrupted.

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In vitro dry matter disappearance using roe deer inocula from summer and winter

Rangifer ◽

10.7557/2.13.3.1105 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 143 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Øystein Holand

Keyword(s):

Dry Matter ◽

Roe Deer ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

High Fiber ◽

Ruminal Microorganisms ◽

Fiber Diet ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Laboratory Procedures ◽

High Fiber Diet

In vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) of 12 forages were determined using ruminai inocula from 10 European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) collected in summer and winter. There was significant difference in the ability of winter and summer inocula to digest winter and summer forages respectively. Each of the 6 summer forages had a significantly higher IVDMD in ruminal inocula of animals collected in summer versus winter. However, no significant difference in IVDMD of winter versus summer inocula was observed for each of the 6 winter forages. These results suggest adaption, although limited, by ruminal microorganisms in roe deer to winter forages or a potential problem in standard in vitro laboratory procedures when using animals on a high-fiber diet as inocula donors.

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