Behavior of Columbian Black-Tailed Deer with Reference to Population Ecology

Abstract

An understanding of animal behavior is essential to any study of population ecology. The dynamics of a population, including changes in natality, mortality, density and structure are strongly influenced by behavioral elements such as mobility, territoriality and social organization. These elements of behavior have been investigated for the Columbian black-tailed deer, Odocoileus hemionus columbianus (Richardson), in Lake County, California. The findings for this area, with comparative data from the literature on Odocoileus and, where appropriate, other Cervidae, form the body of this report.