WEST KOOTENAY MULE DEER PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT

Transcription

1 COLUMBIA BASIN FISH & WILDLIFE COMPENSATION PROGRAM WEST KOOTENAY MULE DEER PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT PREPARED BY John Gwilliam FOR Columbia Basin Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program October 1999

2 CBFWCP Project Progress Report Project Name: West Kootenay Mule Deer April 01, September 30, 1998 By: John Gwilliam and Ian Parfitt Columbia Basin Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program Date: October 15, 1999 Co-operators: CBFWCP BCE, Kootenay Region US Forest Service BC Forest Service - Arrow Small Business Program Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife Washington State University - Pullman, Washington

3 Executive Summary This progress report for the West Kootenay Mule Deer Project (Task W96M006) presents the preliminary findings for the first 30 months of field activity up to 30 September 1998 and outlines the direction to the end of the project. Initially the study area encompassed the mule deer winter range found on the south slopes above the South Salmo River from Stagleap Ranch to the Canada/USA border. In the second year of the project the study area was expanded to include mule deer winter range in the lower Corn Creek/Teetzel Creek area. Expansion was necessary to access greater numbers of deer for collaring. Low numbers of deer on the South Salmo study area made it difficult to maintain an adequate sample of collared deer. A total of 22 (2M, 20F) mule deer were captured and collared. Clover traps (30 trap-nights) accounted for 2 deer with helicopter net-guns (8 helicopter sessions) accounting for the other 20. Capture success varied by month and year with best results in March and April. Three of the nine mortalities detected during the study were caused by cougars (cougars were suspected in one other death as well), one was killed by a vehicle, and one died of natural causes. We were unable to determine the cause of death for the remaining three deer. Movement patterns of individual deer fit three broad patterns. They included (1) indistinct seasonal ranges - impossible to distinguish seasonal boundaries (2) distinct seasonal ranges - winter and summer were distinct entities separated by more than 4 km. (3) adjacent seasonal ranges - winter and summer ranges were readily identified but separated by less 4 km. Migration distances, based on distances between the center of the winter and summer ranges averaged 14.5 km for all deer with distinct and adjacent seasonal ranges (range= km, n=14). Summer home ranges (100% MCP) of female deer with distinct seasonal ranges varied from 1.06 km 2 to 4.04 km 2. Winter home ranges (100%MCP) of female deer with distinct seasonal ranges varied from 1.23 km 2 to 7.66 km 2. Two does captured on the South Salmo River winter range in 1997 appeared to have emigrated from the study area as they wintered near Sullivan Lake in Washington State in The average annual survival for radiocollared female mule deer of 0.63 suggests declining deer populations in the South Salmo/Corn Creek area. During the course of this project, 6 winter sites in need of enhancement, through burning and manual slashing, were identified by program staff. The focus for the remainder of the project will be assembling GIS databases (Forest Cover, TRIM, TEM) to enable the graduate student to proceed with the habitat analysis. i

4 Table of Contents Page Background 1 Objectives 1 Study Area 1 Methods 1 Results to Date 3 Habitat Enhancement Revelations 6 Future Activities 6 Recommendations and Suggestions 6 References 6 ii

5 Maps Page Map 1- Mule Deer Study Area - South Salmo River + Corn Creek. 9 Map 2 - All Telemetry Locations To September 30,1998. Sleeve Map 3 - Indistinct Seasonal Ranges - Example: Female Map 4 - Distinct Seasonal Ranges - Example: Female Map 5 - Adjacent Seasonal Ranges - Example: Female Map 6 - Spring/Fall Transitional Ranges - Example: Female iii

6 Acknowledgments Numerous people have assisted on this project. Special thanks to fixed-wing pilot Dave Mair for his skillful flying and to Ross Clarke for his assistance in deer trapping/collaring and monitoring. Thanks to Maryann McDonaugh for helping out with the deer collaring, Erin Parton for monitoring collared deer, and to Hugh Robinson for calculating survival data and deer immobilization, and Dave Lewis for deer immobilization. Special thanks to Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program and the Arrow Forest District Small Business Program for funding this project. iv

7 Background In 1996, the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (CBFWCP) in partnership with BC Environment, BC Forest Service, US Forest Service, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Washington State University initiated a population study of mule deer in the South Selkirk Mountains (SSM) near Salmo, B.C. (Gwilliam 1996). The project was developed in response to declining mule deer populations regionally and provincially and concerns over mule deer population recovery, increased developmental pressures in mule deer habitat and lack of inventory and habitat requirement information to base management decisions upon. The South Salmo/Corn Creek Mule Deer Project (Task W96M006) is in its 3rd year of five. This progress report presents the initial results for the first 30 months of field activity up to 30 September 1998, and summarizes field priorities for Data analysis is minimal since sample sizes are relatively small. Objectives (1) Determine mule deer winter habitat use in the South Salmo River area of the SSM. (2) Determine the population size of mule deer wintering on the south slopes above the South Salmo River using mark-recapture(resight) techniques. (3) Determine and quantify mortality sources of mule deer in the SSM. (4) Determine the natality of female mule deer in the SSM. (5) Produce biologically based management recommendations for mule deer populations in the SSM. Study Area Initially the study area encompassed the mule deer winter range found on the south slopes above the South Salmo River from Stagleap Ranch upstream to the Canada/USA border (Map 1). Biogeoclimatic variants in the area included ICHxw, ICHdw and ICHwm2 (Marcoux et al 1996). The study area was expanded in the second year of the project to include the south slopes above Teetzel Creek and Corn Creek, downstream of Buckworth Creek. Both Corn and Teetzel Creeks found in the ICHdw variant, drain into the Kootenay River near the Creston Valley Wildlife management area. Expansion was necessary to access greater numbers of deer for radiocollaring. Low numbers of deer on the South Salmo portion of the study area made it difficult to maintain an adequate sample of radiocollared deer. Methods Trapping and Animal Capture Mule deer were captured using collapsible, single door, Clover-type traps (Clover 1956) and aerial net-guns (Barret et al. 1982) from a Hughes 500 helicopter. Use of the Clover-type traps was limited due to elk/mule deer overlap on much of the winter range. Mule deer were manually restrained, blindfolded and fitted with an LMRT-4 radiocollar with a 6-hour mortality delay (Lotek Engineering Inc., Newmarket, Ontario). Sex, general condition and anomolies were noted for each deer. We identified deer age classes (fawn, yearling and 1

8 adult) by tooth replacement. More precise ages were determined for dead radiocollared deer from tooth wear (Severinghaus 1949, Robinette et al.1957). Habitat Use and Home Range To collect habitat and movement/migration data mule deer, attempts were made to locate them from the air using a Cessna 337 on an average of three times a month from June through September and 4 times a month from October through May. Location data collection followed that of McLellan and Flaa (1993) and Krebs and Lewis (1997) and included: UTM co-ordinates (NAD 27 or 83), Forest Cover Polygon Label (Species, Age, Height, Crown Closure), Biogeoclimatic Subzone, elevation, aspect, slope, and activity of animal if discernable. Location data precision was assumed to be +/- 100m. For this report, seasonal home ranges were expressed as minimum convex polygons (MCP)(Mohr 1947). Migration distances were calculated as the distances between centroids of seasonal ranges (100% MCP). Biogeoclimatic linework at 1:250,000 available from BCE Kootenay Regional GIS section was used to tally radio telemetry locations. Future habitat use analyses will treat individual mule deer separately to enable comparisons. Mortality and Reproduction To collect mortality data mule deer were monitored from the ground 5 to 6 times weekly from May through September and 2 to 3 times weekly for the remainder of the year. The increased intensity is necessary to more reliably determine cause of death especially during the summer months when cougar, black bear and mule deer home ranges overlap. It became apparent early on in the project that it is critical to monitor the deer almost daily for parts of the year. Should a deer die and the carcass start smelling there is a high probability of a black bear destroying evidence of other forms of predation. Mortalities were detected via 6 hour delay mortality sensors built into the radiocollar. Only cases where the radiocollar and carcass or parts of the carcass were recovered were considered mortalities. Where the collar only was recovered it was coded as unknown. Where the carcass was located, a necropsy was performed on site. Ground telemetry was used in an attempt to confirm reproduction. This involved locating the general area that a specific doe was in, finding a good vantage point and watching the area for the doe and evidence/presence of fawns. Survival Estimation Survival rates were determined using MICROMORT (Heisey and Fuller 1985). Because of small sample sizes we pooled sexes. Results to Date Live Trapping: A total of 17 mule deer (16F; 1M) were captured during the first year of trapping (Table 1). The female sample included 3 fawns and 13 mature does. Fifteen of the deer were captured using 2

9 aerial net-guns from a Hughes 500 helicopter, the other 2 in Clover-type traps. The highest capture success was in late March. Live Trapping: A total of 5 mule deer (4F; 1M) were captured during the second year of trapping (Table 1). All the deer were captured using the helicopter capture technique with the highest success in early April. Lower trapping success in 1997/98 was due primarily to moderate winter weather. This allowed the deer to remain more widely dispersed and in some instances away from the limited number of capture sites on the winter range. Also, mule deer population levels in the area appeared to be down after the extremely harsh 1996/97 winter. Table 1. Capture Method Summary of capture effort and captures for and by capture method and month. Month Capture Effort Deer Captures Capture Effort Helicopter February 1 heli session 1 0 heli sessions 0 March 2 heli sessions 12 1 heli session 1 April 1 heli session 2 3 heli sessions 4 Clover Trap February 02 trap nights 0 0 trap nights 0 March 22 trap nights 2 6 trap nights Deer Captures Radio Telemetry We obtained a total of 616 radio telemetry locations from 22 individual mule deer radiocollared between 3 February 1997 and 30 September 1998 (Map 2). Data collected to date is somewhat lower than anticipated, this due to a high rate of deer mortality and low capture success in the second year of the project. Deer Movements (i) Movement Patterns of Individual Deer Movements patterns of individual deer generally fit the three broad patterns identified by Pac et al (1991). The categories include: (1) Indistinct seasonal ranges (ISR)- there may some tendency for locations recorded during one season to cluster in a particular part of the total home range. However, numerous relocations could occur with equal probability in any portion of the home range during any season making it impossible to distinguish seasonal boundaries. (2) Distinct seasonal ranges (DSR)- winter and summer were distinct entities separated by distances ranging from a few to a considerable number of kms. As distances between seasonal ranges increased, this movement pattern more closely resembled migration as characterized by Baker (1978). (3) Adjacent seasonal ranges (ASR)- movements of deer displaying this pattern were characteristically intermediate of those of ISR and DSR deer. Winter and summer home 3

10 ranges usually were readily identified but separated by less than 4 km. Attitudinal migration described by Harestad (1979) was similar to the ASR pattern. Maps 3, 4 and 5 show examples of the above 3 movement/migration patterns. (ii) Seasonal Use of Transitional Areas Transitional areas used were similar to those identified by Pac et al (1991). They consisted of areas or habitats, usually outside of normal seasonal home ranges, that were used occasionally by deer either in addition to use of normal range or between periods of use of summer and winter ranges. The types of transitional areas included winter, spring, early summer, late summer, and autumn. Map 6 shows the spring/autumn transitional ranges used by F0452 who had a DSR movement pattern. (iii) Emigration F0351 collared on the South Salmo River winter range in March 1997 moved 14km southeast to summer in the Upper Priest River drainage in Idaho. However, in the 1997/98 she wintered near Sullivan Lake in Washington State. F1871 collared on the South Salmo River winter range in March 1997 moved 31km southeast to summer in the Upper Cow Creek drainage in Idaho. However, in the 1997/98 winter she wintered near Sullivan Lake in Washington State. (iv) Migration Distances Migration distances, based on distances between the center of the winter and summer home ranges averaged 14.5km for all deer with DSR and ASR movement patterns (range = km, n = 14). Deer Home Ranges Location data was exported to GIS for presentation and initial summary analysis (Map 2) Summer and winter home ranges were estimated using 100% Mean Convex Polygon for 13 females and 1 male where the greatest number of locations were available (Table 2). A yearlong home range size of 12.87km 2 was calculated for a adult doe F1771 with indistinct seasonal ranges. Preliminary home ranges of adult females with distinct seasonal ranges are similar to those reported in the literature (summer: km 2 ; winter: km 2, c.f. Pac et al. 1991). Our home ranges will no doubt be refined as more telemetry data is collected. 4

11 Table 2. Summer and winter home range analysis for 1 male and 13 female mule deer using 100% Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) method. Deer ID Summer Range(km 2 ) No. Locs Winter Range(km 2 ) No. Locs Males 3171(DSR) Females 0151(ASR) (DSR) (DSR) (DSR) (DSR) (DSR) (DSR) (DSR) (DSR) (DSR) (ASR) (DSR) (DSR) Deer Mortality To 30 September 1998, 9 mule deer have died, 1 killed by a vehicle on Highway 3 (F2061), 1 of natural causes (F0451), 3 by cougars (F2671, F1971, F2461), and 3 unknowns (F2161, F2261, F1251). One other deer (F1561) died of predator related causes as bite marks on the neck suggested, however, disturbance of the site by a black bear prevented confirmation of the doe having been killed by a cougar. Deer Survivorship Mean annual survival for radiocollared females was 0.63 (Table 3). Survival of 0.63 would suggest a declining mule population. Adult female estimates of survival ranging from 0.78 to 0.86 have been documented in stable to increasing deer populations by other researchers (Gavin et al. 1984, White et al. 1987, Dusek et al. 1989, Bartmann et al. 1992, McCorquodale 1999). Table 3. Micromort estimate of mean annual survival (Apr-Mar) for radiocollared female mule deer, South Salmo River + Corn Creek, BC, Years No. at Risk(n) No. of Deaths No. of Radio Days Survival 95% Confidence Interval Variance

12 Population Estimation The presence of marked animals will permit the estimation of the mule deer population size using the study area during the winter months. Absolute abundance data will be collected using mark-resight methods, and analysis will be conducted using NOREMARK (White 1996). Habitat Enhancement Revelations During the course of staff travels while working on this project a number of potential enhancement sites on mule winter range were identified. They include: 1) Prescribed burning near Corn/Buckworth Creek - 82F007 Polygon ) Prescribed burning near Ezekiel Creek - 82F007 Polygon ) Prescribed burning near Rainy Creek - 82F005 Polygon ) Prescribed burning near Wilson Creek - 82F004 Polygon ) Manual slashing near the confluence of Stagleap Creek and the South Salmo River - 82F005 Polygons 374 and 402. Future Activities Priority 1. Increase radiocollared mule deer sample to allow survivorship to be determined for bucks, does and fawns. Priority 2. Maintain weekly mule deer telemetry flights. Priority 3. Monitor female reproductive status. Priority 4. Undertake population census through the use of mark-resight technique. Priority 5. Assemble GIS databases (Forest Cover, TRIM, TEM) to enable habitat analysis (using forest cover and TEM information) to proceed and to refine seasonal home range sizes. Recommendations and Suggestions Investigations into mule deer ecology and behavior in the Southern Columbia Mountains are logistically difficult due to rugged terrain and therefore expensive. Anyone considering a mule deer radio-telemetry study should be aware of the large commitment of time and effort required to collect information especially on mortality and survivorship. 6

13 References Baker, R. R The evolutionary ecology of animal migration. Holmes and Meier Publ., Inc. New York, NY. 1012pp. Barrett, M. W., J. W. Nolan and L. D. Roy Evaluation of a hand held net-gun to capture large mammals. Wildl. Soc. Bull. 10: Bartmann, R. M., G. C. White, and L. H. Carpenter Compensatory mortality in a Colorado mule deer population. Wildlife Monographs 121. Clover, M. R Single-gate deer trap. Calif. Fish and Game. 42(3): Dusek, G. L., R. J. Mackie, J. D. Herriges, Jr., and B. B. Compton Population ecology of white-tailed deer along the lower Yellowstone River. Wildlife Monographs 104. Gavin, T. A., L. H. Suring, P. A. Vohs, Jr., and E. C. Meslow Population characteristics, spatial organization, and natural mortality in the Columbian white-tailed deer. Wildlife Monographs 91. Gwilliam, J. C West Kootenay mule deer ecology and habitat use in the South Salmo River area. Working Plan. Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program. Nelson. BC. 10 pp. Harestad, A. S Seasonal movements of black-tailed deer on northern Vancouver Island. Ph.D. Thesis. Univ. British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. 98pp. Heisey, D. M. and T. K. Fuller Evaluation of survival and cause-specific mortality rates using telemetry data. J. Wildl. Manage. 49: Krebs, J. C. and D. Lewis Kootenay Wolverine Progress Report. Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program. Nelson, BC. 16 pp. McCorquodale, S. M Movements, survival, and mortality of black-tailed deer in the Klickitat Basin of Washington. Journal of Wildlife Management 63:

14 Marcoux, D., M. Mathers, J. Riddell, and M. V. Ketcheson Expanded biophysical ecosystem legend - Wilson/Stagleap south slopes. Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program. Nelson. 73pp. Mohr, C. O Table of equivalent populations of North American small mammals. Am. Midl. Nat. 37: McLellan, B. N. and J. Flaa Integrating Mountain Caribou and Forestry, The Revelstoke Caribou Project. E. P Annual Report for Year 1, pp. Pac, D. F., R. J. Mackie, and H. E. Jorgenson Mule deer population organization, behavior and dynamics in a northern Rocky Mountain environment. Final report, research project W-120-R-7-18, Montana Dep. Fish, Wildl., and Parks, Helena. 316pp. Robinette, W. L., D. A. Jones, G. Rogers, and J. S. Gashwiler Notes on tooth development and wear for Rocky Mountain mule deer. J. Wildl. Manage. 21: Severinghaus, C. W Tooth development and wear as criteria of age in white-tailed deer. J. Wildl. Manage. 52(2): White, G. C., R. A. Garrot, R. M. Bartmann, L. H. Carpenter, and A.W. Alldredge Survival of mule deer in northwest Colorado. Journal of Wildlife Management 51: White, G. C NOREMARK Software Reference Manual. Fort Collins, CO. 29pp. 8