Oral Presentations
Potential for Disease Spread in White-Tailed Deer in Northern Idaho
Presentation Type
Presentation
Faculty Mentor’s Full Name
Chad Bishop
Faculty Mentor’s Department
Wildlife Biology
Abstract / Artist's Statement
Dispersals are permanent movements of an individual across a landscape for reasons such as social cues, habitat condition and food availability. They are important in regulating density of populations, connecting herds through gene flow, and decreasing inbreeding. Another implication with dispersals is long distance disease transmission. Though dispersals in white-tailed deer have been studied on many occasions in numerous ecosystems and populations, they have not been researched in an area with the diversity of predators, topography, or vegetation of northern Idaho. In this study I will look at the potential for disease spread in white-tailed deer in north Idaho by analyzing dispersal movements tracked by GPS collar data. Between 2019 and 2022 approximately 500 deer were clover trapped across 3 study areas in north and central Idaho. Each individual was fitted with a GPS collar and at least 4 points a day were taken until the collar was removed or the individual died. I will be using this collar data to estimate home ranges using 95% Kernal Density Estimation and measuring dispersals with Euclidean distance. With this data I anticipate that male juveniles will disperse in the highest proportion just prior to parturition, followed by females of the same age cohort. Dispersals and large movements of white-tailed deer are currently a critical topic of concern to wildlife managers. Chronic Wasting Disease is spreading rapidly in the western United States and most recently into North Idaho. Once CWD is in a population and area, it is difficult to eradicate due to its long infectious period and potential to remain on a landscape and transmit through fomites. For this reason, it is crucial to understand how the disease may spread across north Idaho prior to its occurrence to inform best management practices.
Category
Physical Sciences
Potential for Disease Spread in White-Tailed Deer in Northern Idaho
UC 331
Dispersals are permanent movements of an individual across a landscape for reasons such as social cues, habitat condition and food availability. They are important in regulating density of populations, connecting herds through gene flow, and decreasing inbreeding. Another implication with dispersals is long distance disease transmission. Though dispersals in white-tailed deer have been studied on many occasions in numerous ecosystems and populations, they have not been researched in an area with the diversity of predators, topography, or vegetation of northern Idaho. In this study I will look at the potential for disease spread in white-tailed deer in north Idaho by analyzing dispersal movements tracked by GPS collar data. Between 2019 and 2022 approximately 500 deer were clover trapped across 3 study areas in north and central Idaho. Each individual was fitted with a GPS collar and at least 4 points a day were taken until the collar was removed or the individual died. I will be using this collar data to estimate home ranges using 95% Kernal Density Estimation and measuring dispersals with Euclidean distance. With this data I anticipate that male juveniles will disperse in the highest proportion just prior to parturition, followed by females of the same age cohort. Dispersals and large movements of white-tailed deer are currently a critical topic of concern to wildlife managers. Chronic Wasting Disease is spreading rapidly in the western United States and most recently into North Idaho. Once CWD is in a population and area, it is difficult to eradicate due to its long infectious period and potential to remain on a landscape and transmit through fomites. For this reason, it is crucial to understand how the disease may spread across north Idaho prior to its occurrence to inform best management practices.