Coyote Predation Effects on White-Tailed Deer Fawns

Coyotes (Canis latrans) are a relatively new predator to the southeastern United States, and may be negatively impacting white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus; hereafter, deer) populations. Our objectives were to evaluate the impacts of coyotes on deer fawns by assessing deer fawn survival and cause-specific mortality, and gain an understanding of factors affecting fawn survival and coyote predation. We captured and radio collared 30 fawns in the Red Hills region of Florida and Georgia, USA (20122013). Fawns were monitored for 12 weeks for survival and cause-specific mortality, and we quantified habitat and environmental characteristics of birth sites. Predation (n = 19; 95%) was the leading cause of fawn mortality (n = 20; 67%), with coyote predation (n = 14; 74%) being the most important type of predation. Survival rates for all fawns were greater (P = 0.048) where coyotes were removed compared to nonremoval sites, with 50% and 25% of fawns surviving to 12 weeks on coyote-removal and non-removal sites, respectively. Survival rates of fawns ultimately predated by coyotes were greater (P = 0.096) on coyote-removal than non-removal sites, with 40% and 50% of fawns predated by coyotes within 12 weeks on coyote-removal and non-removal sites, respectively. Survival of all fawns and those predated by coyotes was lower when fawns were born at sites with greater hardwood basal area, total basal area, and canopy closure; and survival improved if born in or near hardwood, natural pine, and managed (planted) pine cover types. Increased canopy cover within 10 m of the birth site was selected by adult females for birth sites of all fawns and those that were predated by coyotes. Compared with fawns that lived, all dying fawns and those predated by coyotes had less shrub cover within 5 m and less grass cover at and within 10 m of the birth site. Coyote removal increased fawn daily survival rates, and habitat played a role in fawn survival.


Introduction
The relatively recent colonization of coyotes (Canis latrans) in the southeastern United States may be negatively influencing white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations.Although coyote numbers are increasing throughout the Southeast, and studies have documented the potential for coyote predation to negatively affect deer populations, little quantitative evidence for coyote impacts on deer exists, and less is known about the effects of coyotes on deer in Florida and adjacent areas [1] [2] [3].The climate, weather, vegetation, and fauna in these areas differ greatly from the coyote's historic western range and much of the remainder of their southeastern U.S. distribution, possibly affecting coyote foraging behavior and effects on deer [4] [5].In addition, throughout much of Florida and parts of adjacent states, deer populations exhibit lower recruitment and productivity due to naturally poor habitat conditions [6].Under such poor conditions, even small increases in predation may have dramatic effects on deer populations.
Deer management practices have often focused on the control of predators to increase deer populations [7] [8] [9] [10].However, such programs may have few longterm effects on coyote populations [11] [12] [13] [14], and little quantitative evidence exists regarding coyote-removal effects on deer populations [10].Most research on the effects of coyote removal suggests equivocal or site-dependent effects.In addition, most studies fail to link directly coyote removal and fawn survival [1] [7] [15] [16] [17].Further, habitat structure may be a significant determinant of deer fawn survival and recruitment in areas where coyotes are found [18] [19] [20].Therefore, it is essential to understand what factors are most important to coyote predation success, and thus deer fawn survival, to inform effective deer management.
We examined deer fawn survival and cause-specific mortality, including the relative importance of coyotes, in the Red Hills region of Florida and Georgia, where knowledge of the role of habitat on coyote predation success is lacking.Additionally, to understand factors affecting fawn survival in the context of coyote predation, we examined the importance of microhabitat (e.g., shrub cover), landscape (e.g., distance to road), and environmental (e.g., rainfall) characteristics in and around fawn birth sites.

Study Areas
Fawn survival was assessed on 2 sites in the Red Hills region of South Georgia and North Florida: Rosemary Plantation (RP) and Dixie/Pinion Point Plantation (DPPP; adjacent properties that comprised one study area).This area is characterized by red clay soils, rolling hills, and largely undeveloped plantation lands [21].

Fawn Survival
Across both sites and years, we captured adult female deer by darting (X-Caliber, Pneu-Dart, Inc., Williamsport, PA, fitted with ATN PS22-CGT night vision scope adapters [American Technologies Network Corporation, San Francisco, CA]) from tree stands over bait (corn), and from vehicles via spotlighting [3] from February-April, 2012-2013.
Captured deer were fitted with vaginal implant transmitters (VIT; Model 3930, Advanced Telemetry Systems, Isanti, MN), following [22], except that we left a protruding antenna.Each deer received an individually numbered ear-tag and radio-collar with a mortality switch on a 4-hour delay and activity switch on a 1-hour delay (Model 2510 B, Advanced Telemetry Systems, Isanti, MN).Deer handling procedures followed [3].Signals from VITs were monitored every 3 -12 hours for birth events from the end of the capture season through August each year (2012-2013), leading to the capture of 30 fawns.We provided adult females and fawns a minimum of 3 hours for cleaning and bonding before capturing fawns, to minimize the chances of fawn abandonment.Each fawn was fitted with an expandable collar transmitter with a 4-hour delay mortality switch (Model 4210; Advanced Telemetry Systems, Isanti, MN).Fawn capture and handling procedures followed [3].
Most fawn mortality occurs within the first 12 weeks of life [23] [24].For this reason, fawns were located and monitored for mortality 2 -4 times/day until 12 weeks of age, allowing us to recover fawn carcasses quickly and reduce loss and deterioration of evidence that might aid in determining cause of mortality.We considered subcutaneous hemorrhaging, partial or total consumption of the carcass, and caching behavior [3] to determine predation mortality.Cache characteristics, tracks, scat, other evidence at the recovery site, and carcass location in relation to the fawn's home range were used to determine the predator species responsible [25] [26] [27].Fawn carcasses (i.e., bite wounds around head and neck) and radio transmitters (i.e., hard surfaces of transmitters) were swabbed for DNA evidence, such as saliva, to aid in positive identification of predator species.
All research and animal welfare protocols were reviewed and approved: University of

Habitat Measurements
We recorded fawn birth date, and microhabitat, landscape, and environmental characteristics at birth (i.e., VIT) sites.These characteristics were also recorded at a paired random site, which was located at a random distance (30 -200 m) and direction, in the same cover type patch [28] as the birth site.To characterize microhabitat characteristics, we recorded grass cover, total herbaceous cover, shrub cover, vegetation height, basal area, and canopy closure at the site and within 5 m and 10 m of the site.Grass and total herbaceous cover (%) were visually estimated in 9 1-m 2 plots (1 at the site, 4 5 m from the site in the cardinal directions, and 4 10 m from the site in the cardinal directions; Figure 1).Shrub (woody vegetation ≤2 m) cover (%) was determined along 2 perpendicular 20-m transects centered on the site using the line intercept method [29].
Vegetation height (herbaceous or shrub; cm) was determined by measuring the height of the tallest vegetation intercepting the 2 perpendicular transects at the site, 5 m from the site in the cardinal directions, and 10 m from the site in the cardinal directions.A standard 10 BAF (basal area factor) prism was used to measure basal area (m 2 /ha) of trees from the center of each site; trees were classified as either hardwood or conifer.
An ocular tube with cross hairs was used to quantify canopy closure (yes/no) above the site, 5 m from the site in the cardinal directions, and 10 m from the site in the cardinal directions [30].Additionally, a 2-m cover pole was used to measure visual obstruction [31].The cover pole was placed at each site and viewed from a height of 1 m at distances of 5 m and 10 m in the 4 cardinal directions.
To understand the effects of habitat on fawn survival at broader spatial scales, we constructed a geographic information system in ArcGIS [32] using high-resolution  aerial photographs [33].The cover type at each site was characterized using [28] classification system.Cover types were grouped into 5 categories: hardwood forest, natural pine, managed (planted) pine, human-influenced (i.e., row crop, other-herbaceous, successional, pasture/hay, and developed open space), and water.ArcGIS Analysis Tools were used to quantify landscape features around sites, including nearest different cover type, distance to the nearest edge (different cover type, road, or water; m), nearest edge type (different cover type or road), distance to nearest road (m), and distance to nearest water (m).
Environmental factors such as weather and deer population abundance and structure may influence fawn survival (e.g., [2]).Average (cm) and total days of rainfall were determined from the nearest National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration monitoring station for fawn birth months (Monticello, Florida for the RP site and Cairo, GA for the DPPP site).We estimated deer relative abundance and structure using a grid of 16 Bushnell 8 MP Trophy Cam trail cameras (Bushnell Outdoor Products, Overland Park, KS; = 333 m spacing, 1000 m × 1000 m) simultaneously on each half (coyote removal or not) of each study site.Cameras were baited with corn [34] and remained at each site for one week before they were rotated to the other study site.Camera surveys occurred one time/year (2012-2013) during the deer fawning season (May-July), when coyotes are most likely to prey on fawns, and most active as they are raising pups [25].
Deer relative abundance was recorded as deer captured/site/year, and structure expressed as buck:doe and fawn:doe ratios.

Analyses
Kaplan-Meier daily survival curves were determined for all fawns through 12 weeks of age.A Cox proportional hazards model [35] and likelihood ratio test (G) were used to examine differences in fawn survival rates between coyote-removal and non-removal sites, and to examine differences in coyote-predation rates between site types.Statistical significance was concluded at P < 0.100.This value was used rather than the more common P ≤ 0.050 to minimize the probability of making a Type II error [36].
We assessed birth-site characteristics affecting fawn daily survival rates (DSR) in an Information-Theoretical framework using a nest survival model.Because fawns move very little in the first few weeks of life [37], habitat characteristics at the birth site may influence fawn susceptibility to predation.Regression models were developed relating birth-site characteristics to DSR.
Further, to understand the importance of habitat at multiple scales on birth-site selection, we employed case-control logistic regression.Each matched set consisted of a birth site (case) and paired site (control).Additionally, to determine differences (e.g., microhabitat, landscape, and environmental characteristics) between birth sites for fawns that survived and fawns that died, we used a non-paired logistic regression.All analyses were conducted using Program R [38].
Based on the literature, prior knowledge and field experience, and project goals, we developed sets of a priori single-and multiple-variable candidate models consisting of microhabitat, landscape, and environmental characteristics influencing survival, and overall and coyote-specific fawn predation mortality.When a model contained correlated variables (r > 0.70; [39]), the model was excluded from consideration.Individual models were limited to 3 predictor variables to reduce the likelihood of over-fitting.We examined AIC c values, AIC c differences (ΔAIC c ), and Akaike weights (w i ) for models with different combinations of predictor variables, and considered models with ΔAIC c <2 supported [40].Where multiple models were supported, we used model averaging to increase precision of inference.When 90% confidence intervals (CI) for variables within supported models overlapped with zero, we considered them to have a weak effect on the dependent variable and to be uninformative [41].When a 90% CI was >0, we indicate that the variable was selected for and <0 against.Fawns that could not be found after a birth event (n = 18) were censored from survival analyses because fate could not be determined.For brevity and clarity, we only present results of supported models.A complete list of models evaluated can be found in [42].
When assessing factors at birth sites (n = 30) affecting DSR of all fawns, one model was supported.Fawn survival was greater at sites with lower total basal area, and when in or near hardwood, natural pine, and managed (planted) pine cover types (Table 1 and Table 2).For coyote-predated fawns, three birth-site models were supported.
Coyote-predated fawn survival was lower at sites with greater hardwood and total basal area, and when there was a closed canopy directly over the birth site (Table 1 and Table 2).

Site Selection
At birth sites for all and fawns predated by coyotes, the same 2 models assessing birthsite selection were supported.Canopy cover within 10 m of fawn birth sites was selected for, and closed canopy cover directly over the birth site had weak selection against (Table 3 and Table 4).When comparing birth-site characteristics for fawns that died of any cause to those that survived, 5 models were supported.Birth sites of fawns that died had less shrub cover within 5 m than fawns that survived.Comparing birth-site characteristics for Table 1.Supported models a of factors affecting white-tailed deer fawn daily survival rates at birth sites in the Red Hills region, FL and GA, USA, 2012-2013.fawns that were predated by coyotes to those that survived, 2 models were supported.
Birth sites of fawns predated by coyotes had less grass cover at and within 10 m, and greater herbaceous cover within 10 m than fawns that survived (Table 5 and Table 6).; ∆AIC c ≤ 2; b Shrub cover within 5 m of site (%); c Total herbaceous cover within 5 m of site (%); d Cover pole reading within 10 m of site (%); e Grass cover at site center (%); f Total herbaceous cover within 10 m of site (%); g Grass cover within 10 m of site (%).Table 6.Coefficients from supported models of factors affecting white-tailed deer birth-site differences between fawns living and dying (all causes and coyote-predation) in the Red Hills region, FL and GA, USA, 2012-2013.

Discussion
We quantified coyote predation effects on deer fawns in the Red Hills region of Georgia and Florida, and illustrate the role that habitat plays in predation mortality and fawn survival.The greater deer fawn survival on coyote removal sites, and greater coyotepredation rates on non-removal sites, suggests that coyotes may be acting as an additive form of deer mortality [43] [44] [45].
Additionally, our study uniquely examined the relationships between white-tailed deer birth-site selection and fawn survival, particularly in the context of coyote predation, as previous studies emphasized only fawn bed-site selection on survival [46] [47] [48].Survival for all fawns and those predated by coyotes improved when fawns were born at sites with less total and hardwood basal area, less canopy cover, and in and closer to hardwood, natural pine, and managed (planted) pine cover types.Further, we found that adult female deer whose fawns died of any cause or were predated by coyotes selected for birth-site locations with greater canopy cover directly above.The positive association with hardwoods and increased canopy cover may be due to the presence of nutritious mast [49] [50] that would allow adult deer to forage close to and monitor fawns [37] [51] [52], and escape the summer heat and rain.However, coyotes rely on subtle visual [53] [54] and auditory [55] [56] cues to detect prey, and may key in on certain doe behaviors that indicate fawn presence [57].The increased canopy cover and lower basal area found at birth sites may create a sparsely vegetated understory that provides unsuitable hiding cover for fawns, facilitate coyote movements across the landscape, and allow ambush of does and fawns.Our finding that fawn survival was positively related to birth-site shrub and grass cover supports this conclusion.
Because survival was lower and coyote predation rates were greater for fawns born at sites with greater hardwood and total basal area, we expected fawns born in pine communities would have increased survival, as these areas are often characterized by less basal area and more cover in the form of shrub and herbaceous species [28].We found that being born in and near natural and managed (planted) pine stands had positive impacts on fawn survival.Both types of pine stands on our sites received regular burning, and managed pine stands were thinned.This created more open canopies, and relatively abundant herbaceous/ground and shrub cover, particularly in the natural pine stands.However, natural pine communities may mimic a savannah-like system that is similar to more open habitats preferred by coyotes [58] [59] [60], a characteristic that may increase coyote predation success.Although managed pine forests may not provide appropriate fawning cover in the form of a balanced mixture of shrub and herbaceous species, neither does it provide sufficient cover or foraging habitat for coyotes [58] [61].The structure of these managed pine forests may enhance adult female deer detection of predators [62], and provide time to protect fawns and escape coyote predation attempts.
The unique matrix of upland pine and hardwood bottoms characterizing the Red Hills region may be more similar to the prairies in which coyotes evolved their hunting strategies, and have created a landscape that facilitates coyote predation [18].In other areas within the more densely forested Southeast, coyotes may not have the same variety and composition of cover types to exploit [4] [16] [63] [64], possibly accounting for the lack of importance of habitat to fawn survival in those other areas.
Recent studies suggest that managing for cover or habitat generally may not mitigate coyote predation effects [10] [48] [65], whereas we found that habitat played an important role in deer fawn survival.Although studies examining the relationship between habitat management and deer fawn survival exist [66] [67], few directly linked habitat structure and composition to fawn survival [48] [68] [69], and fewer linked habitat to coyote predation of fawns.Unlike the hierarchical approach that [70] recommends when attempting to understand predation risk, studies that examine the relationship between habitat variables and fawn survival tend to consider microhabitat and the landscape separately [10] [18] [48], rather than simultaneously as a predator might when it seeks prey.By studying microhabitat and the landscape simultaneously, we found that habitat at multiple levels was important to fawn survival.Studies that failed to take this same approach have often had conflicting conclusions (e.g., [20] [71]); suggesting that more research is necessary, particularly in the Southeast where such information is often lacking.

Conclusions and Implications
Coyote predation in the Red Hills region is an important source of deer fawn mortality.
Despite the long tradition of predator removal in land management programs in this region, and short-term benefits of coyote removal, deer fawn survival may not be significantly affected if removal is not balanced by habitat management programs that promote fawn cover.Although coyote removal did enhance fawn survival rates, habitat also played a role in fawn survival.Because the Red Hills region spans two states where conflicting deer management goals may exist and contains primarily privately-owned land, the potentially uneven application of deer management programs may not have the overall desired effects on deer populations.If current management practices do not take into account the habitat effects on coyote predation success, deer populations may be negatively impacted.We suggest practices such as thinning and group selection cutting that reduce overstory basal area, particularly hardwoods, and canopy closure be employed, because they likely promote herbaceous/ground and shrub cover, and possibly mast production.

Rosemary
Plantation is located in Thomas County, Georgia.This 2,400 ha plantation is primarily composed of upland pine habitat with hardwood bottoms, and borders the Ochlockonee River.Dixie Plantation is located in Madison County, Florida and Pinion Point Plantation is in Brooks County, Georgia.Dixie/Pinion Point borders the Aucilla River, is composed of similar habitats as RP, and is approximately 3000 ha.Both sites are managed specifically for northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus).Each plantation provides recreational hunting opportunities for northern bobwhite, mourning dove (Zenaida macroura), waterfowl, wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), feral hog (Sus scrofa), and deer.During the past 10 years, 0 -10 coyotes/year were haphazardly removed by hunting, shooting, and trapping on each site.During the study, half of each study site was randomly selected, and landowners ceased coyote removal during 2012-2013.Approximately 10 coyotes were removed each year (2012-2013) on the half of each study area where coyote removal continued.

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Habitat sampling scheme at white-tailed deer fawn birth and random sites in the Red Hills region, FL and GA, USA, 2012-2013.

019 a
Shrub cover within 5 m of site (%); b Total herbaceous cover within 5 m of site (%); c Cover pole reading within 10 m of site (%); d Grass cover at site center (%); e Total herbaceous cover within 10 m of site (%); f Grass cover within 10 m of site (%).

Table 2 .
Information Criterion [AIC]; ∆AIC c ≤ 2; b Total basal area at site (m 2 /ha); c Cover type in which fawn was found; includes hardwood, managed (planted) pine, natural pine, human-influenced, and water cover types; d Cover type closest to cover in which fawn was found; e Basal area of hardwood trees at site (m 2 /ha); f Closed canopy at site (Yes/No).Coefficients from supported models of factors affecting white-tailed deer fawn daily survival rates at birth sites in the Red Hills region, FL and GA, USA, 2012-2013.Cover type in which fawn was found, includes hardwood (HW), managed pine (MP), and natural pine (NP) cover types; c Cover type closest to cover in which fawn was found; d Basal area of hardwood trees at site (m 2 /ha); e Closed canopy at site (Yes/No).
a Akaike's a Total basal area at site (m 2 /ha); b

Table 3 .
Supported models a of factors affecting white-tailed deer birth-site selection in the Red Hills region, FL and GA, USA, 2012-2013.

Table 4 .
Coefficients from supported models of factors affecting white-tailed deer birth-site selection in the Red Hills region, FL and GA, USA, 2012-2013.

Table 5 .
Supported models a of factors affecting white-tailed deer birth-site differences between fawns living and dying (all causes and coyote-predation) in the Red Hills region, FL and GA, USA, 2012-2013.