Thesis
A system model for white-tailed deer population management in northeastern Washington
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2007
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/101281
Abstract
White-tailed deer populations, managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), have increased in northeastern Washington. Reasons for the increase include loss or suppression of historic predators and extensive modifications of original natural ecosystems, which used to influence the size and characteristics of the deer population. WDFW has set as their management goals: (1) keeping the population ratio after the hunting season to 15 bucks to 100 does, and (2) minimizing damage from high deer populations. However, the selection of the sex ratio as a population management metric appears to be without any explicit biological foundation other than having adequate numbers of males for breeding. This project uses system dynamics modeling software (Vensim), to analyze deer population cycles, forage biomass, and hunting influence on sex ratio to show that the critical factor to achieve a stable deer population is not the sex ratio but rather the harvest ratio of does. The model demonstrates the necessity of harvesting at least 20% of does to stabilize the deer herd in northeastern Washington. Even though the model does not include all of the factors that affect deer ecology, WDFW should reconsider the current post-hunting sex ratio target as the essential tool for long-term deer management.
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Details
- Title
- A system model for white-tailed deer population management in northeastern Washington
- Creators
- Aki Kato
- Contributors
- Rodney Saylor (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Environment, School of the (CAHNRS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; Pullman, Wash. :
- Identifiers
- 99900525276301842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis