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In many southern boreal ecosystems of North America, wolves are the primary predators of white‐tailed deer, and white‐tailed deer are the primary prey of wolves. Furthermore, wolf–deer systems have and will continue to become more common as white‐tailed deer range continues expanding northward in North America. Despite this, there is little information on kill rates of wolves on deer (i.e., the number of deer killed per wolf per unit of time)—a fundamental metric of wolf predation on deer—and how kill rates vary with deer density, wolf density, and environmental conditions. We estimated kill rates of wolves on deer before, during, and after a historically mild winter in the Greater Voyageurs Ecosystem, Minnesota, USA. Kill rates of wolves on deer were low (0.009–0.018 deer/wolf/day) in fall, peaked in February (0.050 deer/wolf/day), and quickly declined to 0 deer/wolf/day by April. The kill rates of wolves on deer we observed in winter were some of the lowest kill rates of wolves on deer that have been documented. Wolves in the Greater Voyageurs Ecosystem appeared unable to catch and kill a sufficient number of deer to meet their daily energetic requirements during Winter 2023–2024, and thus most wolves likely lost weight during winter, a period when wolves are typically in peak physical condition. The rates of wolf predation we observed appeared to be well below those needed to decrease deer population density in the GVE. Thus, our work, in combination with numerous other studies, indicates winter conditions are the primary driver of deer population change in northern climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The veterinary surgeon in practice may be asked to attend, examine and treat wild deer that are injured or diseased. For all species, the most common reason for such a request is as a result of a road traffic accident (RTA), but the smaller species may be trapped in drains, fences or gates or mauled by dogs. Larger deer may be entangled by their antlers. Neonates may be mistakenly 'rescued' by well-meaning members of the public and presented to the veterinarian. Species of wild deer in the UK differ widely in size, behaviour and suitability for rehabilitation. This article provides guidance and advice about the approach to wild deer casualties, including species differentiation, first-line triage and options for possible treatment. A brief overview of medicines suitable for deer is provided, together with recommendations for housing and nursing wild deer during recovery, although rapid release is recommended because survival rates of rehabilitated or translocated deer are likely to be poor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Demographic data indicated a population of elk (Cervus canadensis) in northern New Mexico had reduced juvenile recruitment, resulting in a concern over quality hunting opportunities. Following several years of low calf:female ratios of <25:100, we conducted a 4‐year study from 2009–2012 to identify reasons for poor recruitment and evaluated the role of predation and nutrition in limiting productivity. We captured and fixed ear‐tag radio transmitters to 245 elk calves (126 males, 119 females) to determine cause‐specific mortality and estimate calf survival. During the second half of our study, we implemented a new spring black bear (Ursus americanus) season resulting in higher spring black bear harvest and evaluated response in calf survival. We also quantified herd‐wide nutritional condition and productivity. We estimated percent ingesta‐free body fat (IFBF) and pregnancy rates by sampling 1,808 hunter‐harvested female elk from autumn through winter. The primary cause of summer mortality for calves across all years was black bear predation. Estimates for annual calf survival were greater when spring black bear harvest was moderate to high (0.44–0.47) compared to periods with lower bear harvest (0.33–0.35). For every additional bear harvested in spring, radio‐tagged elk calves were 2.4% more likely to survive the summer. Across years and age classes 82 ± 1% (SE) of females were pregnant. Pregnancy rate was greatest for prime‐aged (2–14 yr) females (88 ± 1%). Our herd‐wide estimate of IFBF for prime‐aged adult female elk was 11.9 ± 0.19% but varied by pregnancy and lactation status. Our results that black bear predation was the primary cause of summer calf mortality and that adult females were in adequate nutritional condition suggested that black bear predation was limiting population productivity. Additionally, calf survival was higher in drought years, the same years when targeted spring black bear harvest was implemented. Our results demonstrated that productivity could be increased by implementing a spring black bear harvest strategy targeted around calving areas and could be applied in other areas experiencing low elk calf survival. © 2018 The Wildlife Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mortality rates of white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmermann, 1780)) fawns have been quantified throughout North America. Few studies, however, have assessed cause-specific mortality of fawns after the first 3 months of life or during a severe weather event. During 2010-2014, we captured and radio-tracked 93 fawns in southern and central Illinois and recorded 18 mortality events. In order of importance, survival rates were affected by days since capture, year of drought, age at capture, week after capture (1 or 0 indicator), and region. Estimated overwinter (fall through spring) survival rate (±SE) of fawns in both regions during 2010-2014 was 0.83 ± 0.04. However, estimated overwinter survival rates were depressed during 2012-2013, following the severe drought of 2012 (0.63 ± 0.11 or 0.66 ± 0.11 depending on the model). Main causes of mortality were capture-related and predation, though some dead deer also showed signs of hemorrhagic disease. We suspect that the extreme drought of 2012 created favorable conditions for fall-spring mortality of fawns, due to elevated disease transmission and lower forage quality and quantity for deer. In addition, drought may have contributed to predation by reducing abundance of alternative prey. Our results suggest that severe weather conditions during summer can substantially impact overwinter fawn survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Population growth rates of cervids are sensitive to changes in adult female survival, but fawn recruitment tends to be the population vital rate most susceptible to density-dependent population-level influences. We conducted a study of fawn survival rates and related biology in northwest Crockett County, Texas, USA, during 2004-2007 in an area where white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus) and mule deer ( O. hemionus eremicus) existed sympatrically. Our fawn study was justified by the need to explain annual variation in female-to-fawn ratios apparent during field surveys. Using vaginal implant transmitters in radio-marked adult females to locate birth sites, we captured, weighed, and radio-collared fawns on 4 privately owned ranches. We monitored collared fawns daily and investigated mortalities within 24 hours of receiving a mortality signal to determine cause of death. When possible, we collected thymus glands to assess body condition. We captured 170 fawns (64 white-tailed deer; 106 mule deer), of which 145 were of known-age from collared females, and found that relatively heavy adult females birthed relatively heavy fawns. We also noted that mass gain of fawns and mass of fawns' thymus glands were very low compared to other studies of fawns. We documented mortalities: 47 by predation, 47 by sickness-starvation, 1 by conspecific trauma, and 3 undeterminable. Bobcats ( Lynx rufus) were responsible for nearly all fawn predation; thymus gland and fawn mass data indicated that bobcats did not select weaker fawns. We used proportional hazards regression to assess factors influencing fawn survival and competing risks of mortality and made comparisons between the species when possible. We censored 6 fawns from our analyses and found that half of mortalities occurred within 15 days postpartum, and 12 of the 139 known-age fawns (9%) died within 25 m of the birth site. Fawn survival was 78% at 6 days old, which was the median estimated age-at-capture of fawns from unknown adults. Annual fawn survival rate ranged from 50% for fawns born in 2004 to 17% for fawns born in 2006, with no overall effect of species. Fawn survival was greatest in 2004 when rain during the May-August late-gestation and lactation period was greatest. Mule deer fawns succumbed more to sickness-starvation than did white-tailed deer fawns. Rates of sickness-starvation and predation increased with deviance from mean annual birth dates and with reduced rain during the late-gestation and lactation period. Early fawn survival increased with relative fawn mass, and sex became important at about 30 days postpartum, after which males were at greater risk of sickness-starvation. Lunn-McNeil competing-risks models suggested some interaction between sickness-starvation and predation. Fawn mortality, mass gain, thymus mass, and weaning data indicated that the populations of both deer species were chronically stressed near a carrying capacity that fluctuated annually with rain and that adult females invested little energy in rearing fawns relative to captive females. © 2017 The Wildlife Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The Missouri Department of Conservation implemented an antler point restriction (APR) for white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus) hunting in 29 Missouri, USA, counties in 2004. The APR required antlered deer to have a minimum of 4 antler points on ≥1 side to be harvested during all but the youth portions of the deer hunting seasons. We quantified effects of the APR on the composition of deer harvested during firearms hunting seasons in an experimental period (2004-2007) in APR and non-APR counties in central and northern Missouri. Monitoring (without non-APR counties for comparison) occurred 2008-2013 in 36 counties added under the APR in 2008 and 2012-2013 in 6 counties removed from the APR in 2012. Regulations required hunters to report all harvested deer, which were recorded as antlered male, button buck, or female. We collected ages from a subset of harvested deer at check stations and commercial deer processors. Antlered male harvest during the experimental period in northern (NAPR) and central (CAPR) APR counties was 35% and 36%, respectively, lower than expected the first year when compared with the antlered male harvest in the northern and central non-APR counties. Antlered male harvest recovered over time, but was still 17% and 18% lower than expected in the NAPR and CAPR, respectively, by the fourth year. During the experimental period, female harvest in the NAPR was slightly lower than expected (range = 1-5%), but greater than expected in the CAPR (range = 12-18%). During the experimental period, harvest of 1.5-year-old males decreased by 49-56% in NAPR and 44-63% in CAPR. More 2.5-, 3.5-, and ≥4.5-year-old males were harvested in the NAPR and CAPR than expected. Harvest and age structure of deer taken in counties where the APR was implemented in 2008 corroborated results from the experimental period with decreases in the total antlered male harvest, decreases in yearling male harvest, and increases in adult male harvest. We recommend that agencies considering an APR should evaluate current hunter harvest opportunities, deer population management objectives, hunter selectivity, and hunter interests because these will determine program success and acceptability. © 2017 The Wildlife Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic wasting disease ( CWD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting free-ranging and captive cervids that now occurs in 24 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. Despite the potential threat of CWD to deer populations, little is known about the rates of infection and mortality caused by this disease. We used epidemiological models to estimate the force of infection and disease-associated mortality for white-tailed deer in the Wisconsin and Illinois CWD outbreaks. Models were based on age-prevalence data corrected for bias in aging deer using the tooth wear and replacement method. Both male and female deer in the Illinois outbreak had higher corrected age-specific prevalence with slightly higher female infection than deer in the Wisconsin outbreak. Corrected ages produced more complex models with different infection and mortality parameters than those based on apparent prevalence. We found that adult male deer have a more than threefold higher risk of CWD infection than female deer. Males also had higher disease mortality than female deer. As a result, CWD prevalence was twofold higher in adult males than females. We also evaluated the potential impacts of alternative contact structures on transmission dynamics in Wisconsin deer. Results suggested that transmission of CWD among male deer during the nonbreeding season may be a potential mechanism for producing higher rates of infection and prevalence characteristically found in males. However, alternatives based on high environmental transmission and transmission from females to males during the breeding season may also play a role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Survival estimates are commonly obtained by physically capturing wildlife and marking or affixing a transmitter to a representative sample of the population. Bias induced by capture stress can occur for white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus) if capture influences the probability of mortality. To mitigate this bias, researchers often left truncate data for a threshold number of days (14-28 days for deer) after capture. Potential costs of left truncation include reduced sample size and reduced inference. Costs associated with capture and monitoring of deer are substantial, and defining a truncation period is usually arbitrary or ad hoc. Hence, researchers need to evaluate objectively the effects of left truncation. We analyzed time-to-event data from 1,001 radio-collared white-tailed deer from northern forests and eastern farmlands of Wisconsin, USA in 2011-2014 to evaluate justification for using a 2-week truncation period by comparing the probability of mortality for deer <2 weeks post-capture and deer ≥2 weeks post-capture. We found little support for a difference in mortality between the groups. Results accounting for time of year, study area, and age suggested a 0.69 probability that deer ≥2 weeks post- capture had a lower mortality rate than deer <2 weeks post-capture. Using a reference group of 6-10 -month-old deer in the eastern farmlands in 2011, cumulative capture season mortality was 0.102 (50% CI = 0.075-0.125; SE = 0.037) for deer <2 weeks post-capture and 0.114 (50% CI = 0.087-0.138; SE = 0.037) for deer ≥2 weeks post-capture. Our results suggested that when a careful review of cause-specific mortality is considered for each deer, and presumed capture-related mortalities are removed from the sample, a 2-week truncation period is unnecessary. © 2016 The Wildlife Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Male mammals typically have shorter lifespans than females [ 1 ]. Sex differences in survival may result, in part, from sex-specific optima in investment in reproduction, with higher male mortality rates from sexual competition selecting for a “live-fast die-young” strategy in this sex [ 2 ]. In the wild, lifespan is also influenced by environmental conditions experienced early in life. Poor conditions elevate juvenile mortality, which may selectively remove individuals with a particular phenotype or genotype from a cohort [ 3 ], and can alter the subsequent phenotypic condition and fate of those that survive to adulthood [ 4 ]. Males and females can respond differently to the same early-life environmental experiences [ 5, 6 ], but whether such environmental pressures generate sex differences in lifespan has rarely been considered. We show that sex differences in adult survival and lifespan in cohorts of roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ) range from virtually absent in some years to females living 30% longer than males in others. The extent of this sex difference in adult longevity is strongly linked to the level of mortality each cohort experiences as juveniles, with high juvenile mortality generating a strong sex difference in both adult survival and lifespan. In females, high juvenile mortality leads to increased adult survival for those remaining individuals, whereas in males survival is actually reduced. Early environmental conditions and the selective pressures they impose may help to explain variability in sex-specific aging across animal taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fundamental causes of animal-vehicle collisions are unclear, particularly at the level of animal detection of approaching vehicles and decision-making. Deer-vehicle collisions (DVCs) are especially costly in terms of animal mortality, property damage, and safety. Over one year, we exposed free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) to vehicle approach under low ambient light conditions, from varying start distances, and vehicle speeds from 20 km/h to approximately 90 km/h. We modeled flight response by deer to an approaching vehicle and tested four hypotheses: 1) flight-initiation distance (FID) would correlate positively with start distance (indicating a spatial margin of safety); 2) deer would react to vehicle speed using a temporal margin of safety; 3) individuals reacting at greater FIDs would be more likely to cross the path of the vehicle; and 4) crossings would correlate positively with start distance, approach speed, and distance to concealing/refuge cover. We examined deer responses by quantiles. Median FID was 40% of start distance, irrespective of start distance or approach speed. Converting FID to time-to-collision (TTC), median TTC was 4.6 s, but uncorrelated with start distance or approach speed. The likelihood of deer crossing in front of the vehicle was not associated with greater FIDs or other explanatory variables. Because deer flight response to vehicle approach was highly variable, DVCs should be more likely with increasing vehicle speeds because of lower TTCs for a given distance. For road sections characterized by frequent DVCs, we recommend estimating TTC relative to vehicle speed and candidate line-of-sight distances adjusted downward by (1-P), where P represents our findings for the proportion of start distance by which >75% of deer had initiated flight. Where road design or conservation goals limit effectiveness of line-of-sight maintenance, we suggest incorporation of roadway obstacles that force drivers to slow vehicles, in addition to posting advisory speed limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Recent declines in black-tailed deer ( Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) populations in Washington have been attributed partly to low recruitment. However, sparse information exists regarding fawn survival and factors affecting recruitment. During 2006-2009, we captured 228 fawns on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington, USA, to determine sources of fawn mortality, estimate survival rates, identify factors influencing survival rates, assess the influence of hair loss syndrome (HLS) on winter survival, and estimate population growth. We used known fate modeling in Program MARK to estimate survival rates to age 50 weeks and to 9 weeks by developing 2 candidate a priori model sets. We recorded 129 mortalities; predation was the leading cause (74%). Mountain lions ( Puma concolor) and bobcats ( Lynx rufus) were the most common predators. The survival rate to 50 weeks was 0.33 (95% CI = 0.24-0.43); survival differed between capture years and was age dependent, with fawns being most vulnerable to mortality during the first 9 weeks then again during the winter. The survival rate to 9 weeks was 0.65 (95% CI = 0.60-0.68), and our results suggested that an interaction between age and birth mass influenced survival. A posteriori modeling indicated that greater body mass and earlier birth date also influenced survival over the first 9 weeks of life. Fawns afflicted with HLS had lower survival rates than non-afflicted fawns ( P = 0.018) during winter. Poor body condition, based on femur marrow assessment, was a factor in 89% of fawns that died over winter. We estimated the growth of the population to be stationary at λ = 1.0. Estimates of lambda increased 3% when survival was modified to assume HLS was not a factor. We conclude that fawn mortality during the first 9 weeks followed by a significant increase in winter mortality, exacerbated by HLS, combine to limit black-tailed deer population growth. Inherent nutritional limitations in summer forage may have influenced survival of many fawns, pre-disposing them to mortality during the summer and winter. Wildlife managers can use this information to improve population modeling and management of black-tailed deer populations afflicted with HLS. © 2014 The Wildlife Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traffic-related mortality of free-ranging animals is among the most commonly observed human--wildlife conflicts. These conflicts pose serious threats to human safety as well as having great economic consequences. Although considerable attention has been paid to the role of roads in affecting free-ranging animals, the effects of railways have been less studied. Our study provides initial insights into the spatial and temporal variability of the roe deer--train collisions at 4 selected railway sections in the Czech Republic. Using data on 69 roe deer--train collisions collected during 2009, we tested the effects of railway section length, train frequency, relative abundance of roe deer, and time of year (by month) on collision probability. The number of roe deer--train collisions was influenced by train frequency (i.e. the higher the number of trains passing through individual study sections, the higher the number of collisions) and the time of the year (i.e. the highest number of collisions occurred in winter, particularly in February). Future research efforts should focus on describing roe deer behavior and movement patterns along the railways as well as the mortality factors related to the accidents. Such findings will help to identify hotspots of future accidents and to design suitable mitigation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age-graded fossils of Pleistocene endemic Cretan deer ( Candiacervus spp.) reveal unexpectedly high juvenile mortality similar to that reported for extant mainland ruminants, despite the fact that these deer lived in a predator-free environment and became extinct before any plausible date for human arrival. Age profiles show that deer surviving past the fawn stage were relatively long-lived for ruminants, indicating that high juvenile mortality was not an expression of their living a 'fast' life. Although the effects on survivorship of such variables as fatal accidents, starvation, and disease are difficult to gauge in extinct taxa, the presence of extreme morphological variability within nominal species/ecomorphs of Candiacervus is consistent with the view that high juvenile mortality can function as a key innovation permitting rapid adaptation in insular contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decreases in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawn recruitment have been noted at several locations across the Southeast. Understanding the reason for these decreases is important for management of deer populations. We monitored fawns from birth until 6 mo to examine age and cause specific mortality rates, at Fort Rucker, Alabama. During 2009-2010, 14 fawns were captured immediately after birth and monitored, with three surviving until 6 mo of age. Six of 7 predation events were attributed to coyotes (Canis latrans), and we determined coyote density in the study area during 2010, using DNA isolated from 44 coyote scats, to be 0.40 coyotes/km². This study, like other recent studies in the Southeast, has found low fawn recruitment seems to be driven by coyote predation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately 1.1 million deer-vehicle collisions occur in the United States each year. The predominant methods of disposing of these carcasses (landfill and burial) have several costly disadvantages, including long travel distances to landfills, increasing landfill restrictions, and lack of viable burial areas. Some states have found static compost windrows to be an easy and cost-effective carcass management technique. This type of composting involves the construction of passively aerated static piles, which do not require the materials turning needed with more traditional composting methods. In this study, deer mortality static compost windrows were monitored for 1 year. Windrows were analyzed for pathogen destruction and the degree to which underlying soil filtered leachate contaminants. In response to high windrow temperatures, indicator pathogens Escherichia coli and Salmonella were reduced by 99.99 % the first sampling day (day 7) and ascarids were deemed non-viable by day 77. Soil filtration of leachate was effective in reducing concentrations of ammonia, chloride, and total organic carbon. Nitrate, a contaminant of particular regulatory concern, had an estimated mass contaminant loss of 2.1 kg/ha, compared to the estimated 9 to 50 kg/ha loss from fertilizer application of common agronomic crops. Results of this study indicate that with properly constructed static compost windrows, (1) high temperatures effectively destroy indicator pathogens; (2) the natural filtration of leachate through soil reduces deer mortality contaminant concentrations; and (3) the low volume of leachate (i.e., two percent of the precipitation that fell on windrows) results in nominal losses of nitrate and other contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildlife-vehicle collisions pose a major safety concern to motorists and can be a significant source of mortality for wildlife. Additionally, roadways can impede movements and reduce habitat connectivity. For migratory ungulates, these problems can be exacerbated when roadways bisect migration routes, as is the case in Southwest Wyoming, USA, where a 21-km section of U.S. Highway 30 overlaps with a critical winter range and migration route used by thousands of mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus). In an effort to reduce deer-vehicle collisions (DVC) and maintain migratory connectivity, the Wyoming Department of Transportation installed 7 concrete box-culvert underpasses with continuous game-proof fencing between each crossing structure. To evaluate the effectiveness of this mitigation project, we used remote cameras to quantify the number of mule deer that used the underpasses, estimate passage rates through time, and compare rates of DVCs before and after underpass construction. Through 3 years of monitoring (which encompassed autumn migration [2008, 2009, and 2010], winter use, and spring migration [2009, 2010, and 2011] for 3 migration cycles), we documented 49,146 mule deer move through the underpasses. Passage rates of deer approaching underpasses steadily increased from 54% in Year 1 to 92% in Year 3. Peak movements during the autumn migration occurred in mid-December, while peak spring movements were in mid-March and early May. Underpass and fence installation effectively reduced DVCs by 81%. Had fence gates remained closed and cattle guards clear of snow, DVCs could be eliminated altogether. Our results suggest that underpasses, combined with game-proof fencing, can improve highway safety for motorists while providing safe and effective movement corridors for large populations of migratory mule deer. © 2012 The Wildlife Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An understanding of mortality patterns, and especially the variation in juvenile mortality, is an important component in vertebrate population dynamics. Our study investigates, for the first time, neonate mortality and two levels of spatial behaviour, in a free-ranging fallow deer Dama dama population in southwestern Sweden. In the summers of 2008 and 2009, 36 fawns were marked with radio-collars. Neonate mortality calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method was 23.6%. Mortality caused by predation was low, since only one of eight non-surviving fawns died from predation, probably by red fox Vulpes vulpes. The spatial behaviour of the neonates was examined by habitat selection at home-range level, which in fact is a selection made by the mother, and at bed-site level within that habitat. Compositional analysis revealed a significant preference for arable land, pasture and coniferous forest between 5-15 m high, compared to young forest. Selected bed sites showed significantly lower visibility and higher amount of canopy cover than random sites. Surprisingly, we did not find any relationship between canopy cover and visibility in selected bed sites while it showed a significant and negative relationship at random bed sites. We interpret this finding as while high canopy cover and low visibility covary at the habitat level, fawns seem to select these two bed-site variables independently, perhaps for thermoregulatory reasons. Since there are few predators in our study area and predation pressure is low, this behaviour is not connected to actual survival rates in this area, but would rather be in support of the hypothesis of 'pleiotropy' as thermoregulatory reasons for bed-site selection in neonate fawns might be the most important contemporary selection force in the absence of large predators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study of factors affecting the survival rate of desert mule deer in San Andres Mountains, New Mexico. The study monitored the condition, survival and causes of mortality among desert mule deer from 2003 to 2009 to assess factors behind population declines. It says that causes of mortality included predation, accidents, and malnutrition and diseases.

Deer-vehicle collisions (DVCs) are the primary source of mortality for the endangered Florida Key deer ( Odocoileus virginianus clavium). Of these collisions, >50% occur on United States Highway 1 (US 1), the primary roadway connecting the islands in the Florida Keys, USA. The DVCs on the 5.6-km section of US 1 on Big Pine Key are responsible for approximately 26% of annual Key deer mortality, but extensive urban development along this highway segment complicates efforts to reduce DVCs using traditional methods (e.g., fencing, underpasses). In 2002, a continuous 2.6-km system of 2.4-m fencing, 2 underpasses, and 4 experimental deer guards was completed. We evaluated the long-term effectiveness of these highway improvements in reducing DVCs within an urban landscape. Deer used the underpasses all 7 postconstruction years (2003-2009) with dramatic increases in use over the course of the project. Roadway fencing largely eliminated deer intrusion onto the fenced area of US 1. Although well-maintained fencing effectively restricted deer movement onto the fenced section of US 1 (73-100% decline), other sections of US 1 experienced increases in DVCs. Overall, highway improvements along the US 1 corridor were effective in reducing Key deer mortality over the long-term. The success of deer guards in preventing deer access into the fenced section of US 1 supported the feasibility of implementing similar wildlife exclusion projects in other urban areas. © 2011 The Wildlife Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pregnant doe was presented in a local farm near Guwahati, Assam with difficult parturition and two dead fetus. Blood ketone level was elevated while estimated with the help of hand held ketonemeter. Further, based on the clinical symptoms the doe was confirmed as a clinical case of pregnancy toxaemia. The doe was stabilized with intravenous infusion of 25% dextrose, Vit-Bcomplex, dexamethasone. The doe recovered 6 hour after the therapeutic management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article “Mortality of a captive axis deer (Axis axis) and a llama (Lama glama) due to ingestion of Wedelia glauca” by F. Giannitti et al., it is mentioned that Wedelia glauca, a plant native to South America, was widely distributed in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Brazil and had been introduced in Spain. The authors have learned that the species was also introduced in the southeastern United States (Louisiana and Florida), where it has been described with the former name Pascalia glauca, according to the following reference: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PAGL9. The authors are unaware of its persistence in the flora of the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]