1. Predation by Coyotes on White-Tailed Deer Neonates in South Carolina
JOHN C. KILGO,1'2 USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, P.O. Box 700, New Ellenton, SC 29809, USA
H. SCOTT RAY, USDA Forest Service, Savannah River, P.O. Box 700, New Ellenton, SC 20809, USA
MARK VUKOVICH, USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, P.O. Box 700, New Ellenton, SC 29809, USA
MATTHEW J. GOODE, USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, P.O. Box 700, New Ellenton, SC 29809, USA
CHARLES RUTH, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, 1000 Assembly St., Columbia,

2. The Problem
Declining deer population at the United States Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site (SRS), South Carolina
Causes of decline:
Coyotes?
Bobcats?
Disease?
Malnutrition/change in habitat quality?
Competition with other animals?
Hunting?

3. Coyotes
Recent addition to fauna population in the eastern United States (1978)
SRS (1986)
Numbers established (mid-1990s)
Deer population declining in coincident of coyote population increase

4. Objective
“…to quantify neonate survival rates and identify causes of mortality to directly evaluate whether coyotes may be responsible for declining recruitment in a South Carolina deer population.”

5. Adult Female Capture & Handling
Tranquilizer:
Telazol 250mg
Xylazine hydroxide 150mg
1cc transmitter darts
Reversal (80 min post injection):
Tolazoline hydrochloride mg
Continue monitoring until recovery

6. Vaginal Implant Transmitter
Does confirmed pregnant by ultrasound
VIT inserted (Bowman and Jackson and Cartensen et al. 2003)
Temp fell below 34.58ₒC ± 1ₒ
Pulse rate changed from PPM
VIT fell out
Tracked and found fawns

7. Neonate Capture & Handling
Expelled VIT detected
3-hr time period for grooming and bonding with female
Sometimes took 3-5 days to find neonate (weight approximate birth mass)
Blindfolded, collared, released (avg. 6 min.)
Transmitters did not affect neonate survival (J.C. Kilgo)

8. Neonate Monitoring 8 hrs until 4 wks old
1 to 2 times daily until 12 weeks old
Weekly until 16 weeks old
91 neonates collared

9. Cause of Death Reached carcass upon death signal in 4-13 hours
Puncture would in head/neck = coyote or bobcat
Covered with mineral soil = coyote
Far from kill site/whole carcass consumption/not cached = coyote (Harrison and Gilbert 1985)
Covered with liter or sticks = bobcat
Close to kill site = bobcat (Beale and Smith 1973)
Tracks, scat, etc.
DNA testing from swab samples (Wildlife Genetics International (WGI; Nelson, Canada)

10. Cause of Death Cont.
Predation: 31 to 63/ 70 neonates that died (Table 3)

11. Other Causes Emaciation/marking-induced abandonment
Hunting not conducive to this study because neonates reached recruitment age at 16 wks (can now be hunted (antlerless))
Harvest percentage 36%; 385 deer/yr; ( )
0.5 deer/km2 VS coyotes/km2

12. Results 67 VITs monitored (50 successful captures)
74 neonates (24 sets of twins)
Located others (91 neonates total)
70/91 died
Field methods (at least 50 predation)
DNA (37/41 predation; 35/37 coyote)
Coyote predation at least 26 (37%) to 56 (80%)
Bobcats 7-9%
Previous studies had smaller predation rates (Heugel et al etc.)

13. Results Cont. 22 coyotes preyed upon 24 neonates
Survival estimate 22.2%
32% harvested by hunters (Kilgo et al. 2010)
Numbers cannot keep up
Management: 636 deer harvested
(75% reduction helps with 77% mortality in neonates)
Neonate mortality rate lower before coyote population increased (Dapson et al. 1979)

14. Survival Rate Survival rate: 0.230 (95% CI = 0.155-0.328)
Best-fit model: (95% CI = )
Exclude emaciated 0.247
Only greater
Increased substantially after week 1
Near around week 10
No mortalities after week 9
39% of deaths occurred during first week of life

15. Discussion
Coyote predation main cause of death in neonates 9 weeks and younger
Coyote predation affects recruitment at SRS
Further study needed on carrying capacity of location for adaptive management plan