POPULATION MANAGEMENT

Large Wildlife Mammal Management

What is a definition of ecology and a food chain as they relate to large mammals?

• Ecology– Study of structure and function– Study of inter-relationships of living organisms and their

environment– Understanding of how earth sustains life– Conservation policies and programs are based on

ecological principles– Basic ecological units:

Habitat Niche PopulationCommunity Ecosystem Biosphere

Habitat

• The environment in which an organism’s needs are met

Niche the role a species plays within it’s habitat

Population

• Groups of same species living in an area.

Community

• All plants and animals living together in one specific area

Ecosystem

• Plant and animal communities living with the non-living environment it depends on

Biosphere

• All of the earth’s ecosystems functioning together in a global system

Food Chain

• A series in which food energy transfers from one organism to another

• Energy is lost as it travels up the food chain

• The top of the chain has fewer and larger in size of animals

What are basic habitat requirements for wildlife?• Food - nutritional source• Water - quality & quantity

important• Cover - bedding,

protection• Space - Two types

1. territory2. home range

• Arrangement - interspersion of food, water, cover and space

What are the basic requirements for wildlife?• Food - a nutritional source for all living organisms• Water - quality and quantity are important and directly affects the

habitat and thus the kind of animal species that lives there.• Cover - vegetation or other material used by wildlife for nesting, rearing

young, resting and protection from predators and weather.• Space - a specific amount of space is needed for each individual species.

Space will vary seasonally. There are two types of space.– Territory: a smaller area within the range that an animal will defend usually

against members of the same species.– Home Range: an area over which an animal repeatedly travels. This area is

generally used to locate feed, water and cover. An individual animal’s range may overlap with another, but their territory never will.

• Arrangement - food, water, and cover must be interspersed or arranged throughout the habitat for animals to thrive.

Minnesota’s Ecological Sections

What are the features of the Laurentian Mixed Forest Area?

• Covers a little more than 23 million acres in Northeastern Minnesota• Characterized by broad area of conifer forests and mixed conifer and hardwood forests• Minnesota’s primary range for white-tailed deer.• Mining and lumbering are the major industries in

this area

Of Eastern Broadleaf Forest

• Covers nearly 12 million acres of the central and southeastern parts of the state and serves as a transition between prairie and mixed conifer-deciduous forests to the northeast.• The western boundary has an abrupt transition from

forest and woodland to open grassland. The northeastern boundary is a gradual transition between eastern deciduous forests and the mixed conifer-hardwood forests of northern Minnesota.

• White-tailed deer population is good, however deer are more vulnerable due to lack of refuge during hunting season.

Of Prairie Parkland Area

• Covers just over 16 million acres coinciding with the part of the state historically dominated by tallgrass prairie

• Consists of some mixed hardwoods but mostly farmland (86-99%).

• Crop damage in this area can be serious when population of white-tailed deer is high.

• Deer have limited cover, mainly woodlots, marshes and wooded river bottoms. They are more exposed to hunters.

Of Tall Grass Aspen Parklands

• Covers a small part (about 3 million acres of northwestern Minnesota

• In Minnesota, the province forms a transition between semi-arid landscapes historically covered by prairie and semi-humid mixed conifer-deciduous forests to the east

• Mixed woodlands areas give good cover for deer

Of Tall Grass Aspen Parklands

• The area was originally prairie• New biome classification• Succession is ongoing without management• Area with elk is on the western edge and

needs consistent mowing and or burning to maintain elk habitat

What habitat is favored by white tailed deer?

• Variety of openings & covers• Prefer areas with many “edges”• “Edge” is the transitional zone between vegetation

cover types• Deer do not remain deep in forest

Habitat for deer is seasonal

• Spring – open areas• Summer – open areas and edges• Fall – open areas and edges• Winter – forested areas for protection and

woody browse• High quality habitat critical for pregnant does• Home range for deer– Bucks – 500 to 1000 acres– Does – 300 to 600 acres

What habitat is favored for the black bear?

• North central & Northeast forest• Extensive forest with small clearings• Prefer isolation from humans• Lakes provide bear with variety of foods• Forest provides denning sites• Solitary animals but will share common feeding,

breeding and hibernating space• Bear benefit from managed deer habitat• Bear habitat provides green vegetation, berries, nuts,

leaves, grasses, fruits, insects

What habitat is favored by Moose

• Two distinct areas– a. Forest– b. Transitional

• Prefer isolation from humans• Do not co-exist well with white tailed deer• Lakes and marshes provide for summer dietary

needs• Moose prefer mixture of trees, second growth

shrubs and saplings

What habitat is favored by wolves?

• Forested lands with remote areas and inaccessible by humans

• Prey availability important• Northeast and north central forested areas• Dennings site availability important• High bedding sites• Very territorial, ranges may overlap but

territories never will

What are the feeding habits of the white-tailed deer?• Ruminants• Plant foods: Mast, forbs, agronomic crops, browse• Browsers – consume woody plant materials, trees,• Shrubs• Prefer to feed early mornings and early evenings• Approximately consume 5 pounds per 100 weight and

1-1 1/2 quarts water per day• Summer and fall deer food abundant winter and spring• Food intake is physiologically regulated

What are the ways the white-tailed deer adapts to the environment in which they live?• Over-browsing reduces carrying capacity• Food intake adjusted to time of year and physical activity• Usually limit feeding range to 40 acres

• Fall – feed heavily in preparation for breeding and winter• Winter – hardship period, semi-fasting, death from starvation high. “Yard-

up” to conserve energy• Spring – Consume protein rich green vegetation• Summer – time of plenty

• Usually avoid feeding near humans• Adjust diet to available food

• Forest – woody browse, forbs, mast• Transitional – vegetation, browse• Agricultural – crops, fruits