Presentation Type
Presentation
Faculty Mentor’s Full Name
Cara Nelson; Ben Colman
Faculty Mentor’s Department
Ecosystem Science and Restoration
Abstract / Artist's Statement
Whitetail Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) In the Western United States present management challenges by browsing on ornamental plants and shrubs grown on private and public property. Deer eat a variety of species and their populations in urban settings are increasing. One approach to minimize damage by deer is to select ornamental plants that are deer resistant, however, there is a lack of knowledge about deer resistant native ornamental choices in this region. This region is also experiencing longer and more intense fire seasons, and so while deer pose a threat to ornamental plants, ornamental plants can also pose a threat to property by serving as fuels. In response to this, there has been a shift to the selection of native plants that are fire resistant to minimize the risk to homes and public spaces. The goal of this project is to test the extent to which urban deer will browse on fire resistant plants. To accomplish this, I will conduct a field trial on the University of Montana Campus where I have plantings of 10 species of plants. I will quantify deer presence in the area and browse on the plantings to compare the relative preference of deer for the different plant species. This information will provide guidance to homeowners seeking plants that pose a low risk from fire and are resistant to deer browsing.
Category
Physical Sciences
Deer Resistance of Native Ornamental Plants in the Mountain West
Whitetail Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) In the Western United States present management challenges by browsing on ornamental plants and shrubs grown on private and public property. Deer eat a variety of species and their populations in urban settings are increasing. One approach to minimize damage by deer is to select ornamental plants that are deer resistant, however, there is a lack of knowledge about deer resistant native ornamental choices in this region. This region is also experiencing longer and more intense fire seasons, and so while deer pose a threat to ornamental plants, ornamental plants can also pose a threat to property by serving as fuels. In response to this, there has been a shift to the selection of native plants that are fire resistant to minimize the risk to homes and public spaces. The goal of this project is to test the extent to which urban deer will browse on fire resistant plants. To accomplish this, I will conduct a field trial on the University of Montana Campus where I have plantings of 10 species of plants. I will quantify deer presence in the area and browse on the plantings to compare the relative preference of deer for the different plant species. This information will provide guidance to homeowners seeking plants that pose a low risk from fire and are resistant to deer browsing.