Ecological Factors Influencing White-Tailed Deer Damage to Agricultural Crops inNorthern Lower Michigan

摘要

There are many ecological factors that potentially influence deer use of, anddamage to, agricultural crops. There are no studies, however, that quantify which combinations of ecological factors best describe different magnitudes of crop loss in Michigan. During this study, ecological factors were evaluated with crop loss estimates and predictive crop loss models were developed. The predictive models reflected that a range of ecological conditions, especially deer habitat quality, influence crop losses. The information from the models makes it possible for agricultural procedures and biologists to predict potential magnitudes of crop loss so that appropriate action to reduce losses can be taken. Most importantly, the models show that characteristics of the landscape, of which crop fields are a part, strongly influence patterns and magnitudes of crop loss.