1st Edition
Ecology and Management of Black-tailed and Mule Deer of North America
Black-tailed and mule deer represent one of the largest distributions of mammals in North America and are symbols of the wide-open American West. Each chapter in this book was authored by the world’s leading experts on that topic. Both editors, James R. Heffelfinger and Paul R. Krausman, are widely published in the popular and scientific press and recipients of the O. C. Wallmo Award, given every two years to a leading black-tailed and mule deer expert who has made significant contributions to the conservation of this species. In addition, Heffelfinger has chaired the Mule Deer Working Group sponsored by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies for more than 15 years. This working group consists of the leading black-tailed and mule deer experts from each of 24 states, provinces, and territories in western North America, putting them at the forefront of all conservation and much of the research on this species.
The book represents all current knowledge available on these deer, including how changing conditions such as fires, habitat alteration and loss, disease, climate change, socio-economic forces, energy development, and other aspects are influencing their distribution and abundance now and into the future. It takes a completely fresh look at all chapter topics. The revisions of distribution, taxonomy, evolution, behavior, and new and exciting work being done in deer nutrition, migration and movements, diseases, predation, and human dimensions are all assembled in this volume.
This book will instantly become the foundation for the latest information and management strategies to be implemented on the ground by practitioners and to inform the public. Although this book is about deer, the topics discussed influence most terrestrial wildlife worldwide, and the basic concepts in many of the chapters are applicable to other species.
Section I. Biology and Ecology
Chapter 1. Origin, Classification, and Distribution
James R. Heffelfinger and Emily K. Latch
Chapter 2. Historical Trends in Black-Tailed Deer, Mule Deer, and Their Habitats
William F. Jensen, Vernon C. Bleich, and Donald G. Whittaker
Chapter 3. Physical Characteristics
Levi J. Heffelfinger and James R. Heffelfinger
Chapter 4. Digestive Physiology and Nutrition
Kevin L. Monteith, Tayler N. LaSharr, Chad J. Bishop, Thomas R. Stephenson, Kelley M. Stewart, and Lisa A. Shipley
Chapter 5. Modeling Population Dynamics of Black-Tailed and Mule Deer
Paul M. Lukacs and J. Joshua Nowak
Chapter 6. Diseases and Parasites
Margo J. Pybus, Mary E. Wood, Karen A. Fox, and Brandon A. Munk
Chapter 7. Carnivore-Prey Relationships
Mark A. Hurley, Charles R. Anderson Jr., Tavis D. Forrester, and Justin A. Gude
Chapter 8. Competition with Other Ungulates
R. Terry Bowyer, Kelley M. Stewart, James W. Cain III, and Brock R. McMillan
Section II. Ecoregion Habitats and Population Dynamics
Chapter 9. Northern Forest Ecoregion
Justin D. Gilligan, Darren A. Clark, Ethan S. Lula, Thomas A. Perry, Andrew B. D. Walker, and Laura B. Wolf
Chapter 10. Coastal Rainforest Ecoregion
DeWaine H. Jackson, Karin R. McCoy, Scott M. McCorquodale, Sara J. K. Hansen, Sean R. Pendergast, and David S. Casady
Chapter 11. Intermountain West Ecoregion
Kelley M. Stewart, Brian F. Wakeling, Justin M. Shannon, Cody Schroeder, Donald G. Whittaker, and Gary Bezzant
Chapter 12. Great Plains Ecoregion
Andrew J. Lindbloom, Peter J. Bauman, Melissa A. Foster, Lloyd B. Fox, Shawn S. Gray, Levi J. Heffelfinger, Luke R. Meduna, and Scott D. Stevens
Chapter 13. California Chaparral and Oak Woodlands Ecoregion
David S. Casady, Julie K. Garcia, and Kenneth E. Mayer
Chapter 14. Southwest Deserts Ecoregion
Orrin V. Duvuvuei, James R. Heffelfinger, Paul R. Krausman,
Shawn S. Gray, and Carlos H. Alcalá-Galván
Chapter 15. Colorado Plateau Shrubland and Forest Ecoregion
Eric J. Bergman and Chad J. Bishop
Section III. Population Management
Chapter 16. Population Monitoring
J. Joshua Nowak, Mark A. Hurley, Paul M. Lukacs, Daniel Walsh, and C. Leann White
Chapter 17. Harvest Management
Donald G. Whittaker, A. Andrew Holland, A. J. Lindbloom, and Thomas W. Keegan
Chapter 18. Human Dimensions
Terry A. Messmer, Edward B. Arnett, Steven R. Belinda, Kenneth E. Mayer, and Rob Southwick
Section IV. Habitat Management
Chapter 19. Conflict Management
Brian F. Wakeling, Orrin V. Duvuvuei, Justin M. Shannon, Annette Roug, Chad Wilson, and Sara J. K. Hansen
Chapter 20. Threats to Habitat Function
Edward B. Arnett, Steven R. Belinda, Shawn Gray, Mike Ielmini, Brian Logan, Matt Pieron, and Ian Tator
Chapter 21. Habitat Improvement and Water Supplementation
Randy T. Larsen, Paul R. Krausman, Nicole Nielson, Jill Randall, Daniel D. Summers, and Covy D. Jones
Chapter 22. Migration
Matthew Kauffman, Rhiannon Jakopak, Lucas Olson, Anna Ortega, Jill Randall, Gabe Rozman, Jodi Berg, Scott Bergen, Julie K. Garcia, Evan Greenspan, Mark A. Hurley, and Cody Schroeder
Section V. The Future
Chapter 23. Challenges and Opportunities for the Future Conservation of Black-Tailed and Mule Deer
Paul R. Krausman and James R. Heffelfinger
Biography
James R. Heffelfinger is Wildlife Science Coordinator for Arizona Game and Fish Department and Full Research Scientist in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment at University of Arizona, Tucson. For the last 17 years, he has served as Chairman of the Mule Deer Working Group sponsored by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. This working group consists of the leading black-tailed or mule deer expert from each of 24 states, provinces, and territories in western North America. James is a Certified Wildlife Biologist, and recipient of the O. C. “Charlie” Wallmo Award for contributions to black-tailed and mule deer knowledge and conservation in North America, Mule Deer Foundation’s Professional of the Year Award, Lee Gladfelter Memorial Award, and Distinguished Alumnus University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point. He has authored and coauthored >65 scientific papers, 29 book chapters, 295 magazine articles, several TV scripts, and the book Deer of the Southwest published by Texas A&M University Press.
Paul R. Krausman is Professor Emeritus from the School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson. Paul is a Certified Wildlife Biologist, Wildlife Fellow, Honorary Member of The Wildlife Society, and served as faculty advisor for the student chapters of The Wildlife Society at Auburn, Arizona, and Montana. He has served as editor, associate editor, and guest editor for numerous scientific outlets. Paul has published 41 book chapters, 14 books, >100 conference proceedings, and >270 peer-reviewed monographs and manuscripts. He has received numerous awards for his teaching and research including the O. C. “Charlie” Wallmo Award (1999), the Desert Ram Award (2000), and the Aldo Leopold Memorial Award (2006).
This is not a book to be kept on a shelf for occasional, casual reading, nor can it be used effectively as a textbook on which to base an undergraduate or graduate course. Ecology and Management of Black‐Tailed and Mule Deer of North America is a comprehensive compilation of everything currently known about black‐tailed and mule deer. As such, it will be an invaluable resource for anyone with an interest in this iconic species. Graduate students
needing to brush up on basic life‐history traits of mule or black‐tailed deer will find everything they need to know in these pages. Biologists and managers wanting to implement new strategies for monitoring deer populations or for modifying deer habitat will find clear, accessible guidance. Even non‐professionals will find this a useful reference. This is the bible for anyone interested in mule or black‐tailed deer, and I know my copy won't just sit on my shelf.Ryan A. Long, Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA
Representing three subspecies of Odocoileus hemionus, black-tailed and mule deer are the iconic deer of western North America. Significant culturally, historically, economically, and spiritually, these deer have drawn a significant amount of attention in both technical and popular outlets. Until now, the most comprehensive volume on these deer was Mule and Black-Tailed Deer of North America, compiled and ed. by Olof Wallmo (1981), comprising 15 essays by 12 contributors. In the 40-years since 1981 much has changed and much has been learned. Wildlife scientists and managers have long been concerned over the steady decline in mule deer populations. Heffelfinger and Krausman, both respected experts, brought together 15 essays by a total of 82 authors. Readers at all levels, whether scientists, wildlife managers, students, or wildlife enthusiasts, will find this book readable yet packed with the most current science and technical information. Examples of topics represented in the present volume but not in the earlier book include chronic wasting disease, migration ecology, integrated population modeling, genetics, and finer treatments of ecoregional differences. The editors' care with this volume is evident throughout. It will be the definitive reference for this species.
-J. Organ, Emeritus, University of Massachusetts Amherst
