CALF SITE SELECTION BY RED DEER (CERVUS-ELAPHUS) FROM 3 CONTRASTING HABITATS IN NORTHWEST ENGLAND - IMPLICATIONS FOR WELFARE AND MANAGEMENT

This study (1978-93) was concerned with calf site selection by red dee r from three contrasting areas (two deer parks and one deer farm) of n orth-west England. It arose from initial (1960s-70s) concern over poor recruitment and the high incidence of 'abandoned' calves (at one site ), and increasing levels of public disturbance in Lyme Park and Tatton Park. A better understanding of calving behaviour could lead to impro ved management procedures during calving. Habitat selection by adult f emales was examined indirectly, by recording where calves (0-2 days ol d) were born in relation to their weight. The deer farm provided a con trol site, where the effects of their social traditions could be minim ized. Calves were born over a wide area of moorland in Lyme Park but c onfined to a deer sanctuary in Tatton Park. Areas of obvious plant cov er were selected in preference to open ground in Tatton Park and in th e deer farm. No marked preferences were apparent in Lyme Park, althoug h some areas were used more frequently than others, over all years. Mo st calves occurred within female home ranges. In Tatton Park, the heav iest calves were found in the preferred calving sites.Calf weights var ied widely within and between study sites. On average, the smallest (l ightest) calves were recorded in Lyme Park and the heaviest in the dee r farm. Sex differences in calf weights occurred in Tatton Park, but n ot at the other two sites. In general, late-born calves were smaller t han those born early in the season. Variations in birthweight were lin ked to differences in female growth and site conditions. In the absenc e of more detailed statistics, calf weights can provide a useful measu re of population performance. Collectively, these results suggest that red deer can adopt a range of calving behaviours ('tactics') dependin g on the nature of the habitat (presence or absence of cover), perceiv ed predation 'risks' (levels of disturbance), established social tradi tions and, possibly, parental investment. Cover appeared to be a prima ry requirement for calving. In the absence of cover, other behaviours were adopted. In some cases, these behaviours were not in the best int erests of the calf as parent females rarely returned to feed their cal ves during the day and often engaged in energetically costly diversion ary activities. In deer farms, conflicts between hinds may be exaggera ted by limited access to ground cover, similar social status and low v ariance in calf weights. In view of these findings, there is a need to devise new ways of attracting captive deer to cover, perhaps by modif ications to the habitat mosaic. Observations from Tatton Park show tha t deer readily use refuges (the sanctuary), when available, although i t may be difficult to initiate new behaviours where long-established t raditions occur (eg Lyme Park). Mortality amongst calves is unacceptab le in deer parks, but further work under move controlled conditions, i s required to establish the mechanisms of calf site selection. Effecti ve methods of locating calves are desirable for management purposes.