Study Of White-Tailed Deer Fawn Mortality On Cookson Hills Deer Refuge Eastern Oklahoma
Thirty-three white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawns 5 to 27 days of age were captured in 1970 through 1972. Movements were monitored during June and July to determine their survival and causes of mortality. Three hundred and thirty-one radio locations were plotted for the 22 fawns monitored. Mortality rates in 1970, 1971 and 1972 were 18,64 and 45 percent respectively. Eighty-three percent of fawn mortality occurred during the first month of age. Blood loss and gross infection resulting from the feeding of lone star ticks (Amhlyomma americanum) were associated with the causes of...
