http://bcwf.net/index.php/southern-bc-mule-deer-project
As some of you are aware by now, the BCWF has spearheaded a mule deer collaring project that is taking place in the BC interior over the next three years.
The BCWF has been lobbying hard to increase funding for wildlife and it appears things are headed in the right direction. Without funding this project would have never got off the ground.
Partnering with HCTF, UBCO, University of Idaho, ONA and several sportsmen's groups, the project is under way with a total of 64 mule deer does now sporting new GPS collars. The collaring is now suspended temporarily to avoid any possible harm to unborn fetuses from the tranquilizer drugs.
For this study, the BCWF has purchased a mobile ultrasound unit so pregnancy rates could be determined...which is critical to the study. Not only can it give immediate feedback on fetuses, it can also measure fat on the animal to help determine overall health.
Collaring has taken place in the Boundary (8-14, 8-15), Okanagan(8-08, 8-11) and Elephant Hill Fire (3-29,3-30). Deer were collared both in and outside of wildfire areas.
Of the 64 collared deer (63 does and one yearling female), the pregnancy rate is 100% (minus the yearling) with 80% of does packing twins. So from the 63 does, 113 fawns will hit the ground in the coming weeks. Definitely shows that sperm supply is not an issue.
There are an additional 27-30 collared mule deer does in the West Kootenays but they didn't have an ultrasound so no pregnancy rate are available for those. Not sure if they can get that from blood samples or not?
The collaring of fawns will continue in the fall and does again next spring.
Several HBC'ers have volunteered to assist in this exciting project (feel free to add some pictures to this thread). I was lucky enough to get in on one collar this spring.
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