BIRTH SITE SELECTION OF SIKA DEER IN MARYLAND
Date
2025-05
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
As coyotes (Canis latrans) continue to expand their range into the eastern
United States, their presence introduces new predation pressures on native and non native ungulates. In this study, I investigated how the recent establishment of coyotes
may be influencing birth-site selection in sika deer (Cervus nippon) on Maryland’s
Lower Eastern Shore. During the 2024 calving season, I used GPS collar data from
adult female sika deer to locate actual birth sites and conducted field surveys to assess
characteristics such as vegetation structure, concealment cover, and basal area. I
compared these used sites to random locations within the study area to evaluate
whether deer selected birth sites non-randomly in response to predation risk. My
findings suggest that sika select sites with greater vegetative cover and lower
visibility, potentially as a strategy to reduce predation risk to their offspring. This
research provides insight into how a non-native species like the sika deer is adapting
its behavior in the face of newly established predators.