Dr. Voigt et Jd. Broadfoot, EFFECTS OF COTTAGE DEVELOPMENT ON WHITE-TAILED DEER, ODOCOILEUS-VIRGINIANUS, WINTER HABITAT ON LAKE MUSKOKA, ONTARIO, Canadian field-naturalist, 109(2), 1995, pp. 201-204
We studied the effects of cottage development on the food and cover ch
aracteristics of winter habitat of White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virgi
nianus) on Lake Muskoka in 1989. Forest canopy characteristics (canopy
closure and size of gaps) and browse supply were measured and contras
ted with data collected on sites with cottage development and sites wi
th no development. The canopy closure of conifers was greater on undev
eloped sites than on developed sites. Openings in the shoreline fringe
of conifer cover on developed sites did not show increased forage pro
duction typical of openings in forests because cottagers removed under
brush and established lawns. Winter browse supply was four times lower
on developed cottage lots than on undeveloped shoreline sites. Cottag
e development reduced the carrying capacity for deer by lowering food
supply and thermal cover provided by mature conifer trees. Cottage dev
elopment which minimizes removal of conifers and underbrush from the s
horeline fringe will minimize the impact of development on deer habita
t.