Understanding Urban White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus) Movement and Related Social and Ecological Considerations for Management
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Understanding Urban White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Movement and Related Social and Ecological Considerations for Management by Erin C. McCance A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSPHY Department of Environment and Geography University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2 Copyright © 2014 by Erin C. McCance ABSTRACT White-tailed deer (WTD) (Odocoileus virginianus) were studied within the Greater Winnipeg Area (GWA) to investigate urban deer home range size, habitat use, and seasonal movement patterns. A comparative analysis was also completed in Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP) in order to assess the similarities and differences between urban and rural deer spatial and temporal movement patterns. The study revealed differences in the spatial land use patterns of these two cohorts with substantially smaller urban WTD monthly and seasonal home range sizes than in RMNP. Building on the findings derived from the animal-borne locational data, an investigation into the human social dynamics associated with the urban deer herd indicated that human behavior heavily influences urban deer movement. Using a critical case study approach, the research investigated the wildlife value orientations and the emotional dispositions associated with the human behavior of intentionally supplying artificial food sources for deer. The spatial and temporal occurrences of urban deer-vehicle collisions (DVCs) and the factors associated with high risk DVC roadways were not random, and human social behavior is correlated to the frequency and location of DVC occurrences in the GWA. This research identifies management strategies to successfully mitigate human-wildlife conflict and the associated human-human conflict within the GWA, as well as the need for, and challenges associated with, an integrated approach to urban wildlife management. I McCance, PhD Dissertation ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This research would not have been possible without the financial and in-kind support received from Manitoba Hydro, Parks Canada, Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship, the Mitacs Accelerate Program, and the University of Manitoba. There were numerous individuals who offered their support and guidance throughout the course of this research, to whom I am incredibly grateful. I am thankful to Fiona Scurrah, Trevor Barker, and James Matthewson at Manitoba Hydro who offered their tutelage, ongoing direction, and essential assistance during meetings and on the ground with deer trapping efforts. I thank Bill Elliott, Ken Cudmore, and all of the staff at FortWhyte Alive, who were continually supportive with respect to the deer collaring activities and who invested their ongoing interest and promotion of the research. I am very grateful to Dr. Chris Enright at the Assiniboine Park Zoo for sharing his expertise and for his support during all deer collaring endeavors. During the course of this research, I had the great fortune of meeting many wonderful Greater Winnipeg Area residents who assisted with research efforts. Most notably, I am immensely grateful to Pat and Nancy Caldwell and Del and Jack Matheson for their overwhelming hospitality and generosity. Most of all, however, I am thankful for their friendship. II McCance, PhD Dissertation I am thankful to Bob and Patty Simpson at Dauphin Air Services, for their contribution to the research during capture efforts and flying to locate collars over the past several years. I am deeply indebted to Paul Tarleton and the Wildlife Lab team of Riding Mountain National Park, specifically Doug Bergeson, Tim Sallows, Ken Kingdon, Roxanne Grzela, and Ross Robinson. I am very thankful of their efforts and dedication to the deer collaring activities both on the ground and aerially, including capture, collar re-locations, and the retrieval of drop collars. This study would not have been possible without their generosity and the continued use of their traps and supplies. Over and above, I am thankful for their welcoming nature providing me the opportunity to experience and learn new things. I take away an appreciation of their respect for wildlife and their commitment and enthusiasm for the work they do. I am especially thankful to Tim Sallows whose assistance with the deer trapping undertakings was crucial to the success of this research. I am extremely grateful for Tim’s commitment, his determination to assist me in persevering through difficult situations, and for all of the knowledge he shared with me. There are many staff with Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship that I am very thankful to. I am appreciative of all of the efforts and support of Ken Rebizant, Herman Dettman, Rob Bruce, Cam Meukon, and Brian Joynt especially during the deer capture activities, numerous planning meetings, and offering their advice. I appreciate the direction and support of Jack Dubois, Dan Bulloch, and Dr. James Duncan with respect III McCance, PhD Dissertation to this research. I am especially grateful to Ken Rebizant and Brian Joynt for their time and effort in seeing me through this process. Their support was instrumental for me during the course of this research. I am very grateful to you both. I am very thankful to Doug Schindler for his patience and encouragement of my pursuit of this degree. I appreciate your guidance, friendship, and continued belief in my abilities. I am thankful to my peers and dear friends Jen Syrowitz, Fiona Scurrah, and C-Jae Breiter for their ongoing motivation and support. Thank you to Tim Davis for his patience and tutelage over the last several years. I am extremely grateful to my academic advisory committee, Dr. Michael Campbell, Dr. Rick Riewe, and Dr. David Walker. I have learned a significant amount from each of you and I appreciate all of your support and direction. I am especially grateful to my primary advisor Dr. Rick Baydack. I am extremely lucky to have had the good fortune to work with you and appreciate all the knowledge you have shared with me, both with respect to this research and beyond. I am forever grateful for this opportunity. It is difficult to articulate my gratitude to my parents, husband, and son for their commitment and encouragement in seeing my through this process. Thank you to my dad for his love and continued passion for the great outdoors. I am immeasurably grateful to my mother whose motivation and vision led me here. She inspires, IV McCance, PhD Dissertation challenges, and teaches me every day. I aspire to be a successful scholar of even a fraction of my mother’s distinguished caliber. To my husband and son, words cannot express my appreciation for all of your sacrifices, patience, and support in seeing me through this process. I adore you both and look forward to our adventures that lie ahead! V McCance, PhD Dissertation DEDICATION for Mae VI McCance, PhD Dissertation TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... I ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................ II DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................. VI TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................................... VII LIST OF MAPS ......................................................................................................................... XV LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................................... XV LIST OF PHOTOS ................................................................................................................. XVII LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................ XVII LIST OF APPENDICES .......................................................................................................... XIX CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 THEORY ........................................................................................................................... 2 1.1.1 HUMAN POPULATION GROWTH AND URBANIZATION .................................................... 3 1.1.2 SPATIAL GEOGRAPHIES .................................................................................................. 7 1.1.3 ECOLOGICAL CARRYING CAPACITY ............................................................................. 10 1.1.4 SOCIAL CARRYING CAPACITY ...................................................................................... 11 1.1.5 HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT....................................................................................... 15 1.2 APPLICATION .............................................................................................................. 19 VII McCance, PhD Dissertation 1.3 OBJECTIVES ................................................................................................................. 21 1.4 THESIS STRUCTURE .................................................................................................. 22 1.5 WORKS CITED ............................................................................................................