General characteristics of the behavior of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in semi-captivity in Cobán, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala

Abstract

In Guatemala, the Whitetail deer is one of the most important game animals and, without a doubt, one of the most persecuted despite that, few studies have been conducted on it. At present, with the formation of the collection of the Ammunition Factory of the army-FME-located in the municipality of Cobán, in the department of Alta Verapaz, it seeks to ensure the conservation of this species. The study consisted of daily observations to determine the general behavior: social, productive, reproductive of the deer and field collections made in the times of less and greater precipitation, in order to obtain information about the quality of the main forage plants, through analysis by the Weende method. The availability of the forage was quantified, using estimated percentages of cover, for the herbaceous plants and for bushes and trees systematic sampling was used by means of plots of 10 x 10 m. The main forage plants were graminoid grasses because they exist in greater availability (75%), then the shrubs (22%), and finally the arboreal species (3%). The forages consumed were generally of inferior quality than forages from other latitudes. Among the shrub species, the most important for the deer of the area, the carnation of Panama (Hibiscus rosasimensis), pear (Pyrus communis) and Costa Rica (Bahuinia sp.). These species, together with grasses such as Andropogon bicornis, Panicum sellowii and Paspalum conjugatum, constitute the food base of Whitetail deer in the FME. The data presented on social behavior suggest differences in some social and behavioral strategies at an early age between the population studied in semi-captivity and the reports for populations that inhabit wild areas or in complete captivity. The females generally have their offspring in March, with a peak of births at the end of that month, although this is a period that can last until mid-April. What is observed in Cobán is a seasonality at the time of childbirth, which agrees with the climatic factors that are related to the survival of the fawns. It is inferred that the fawns born during the months of March and April will have a greater probability of survival than those born after or before the season. When heavy rains are present, the fawns are physiologically able to use the vegetative resources available for their growth and development. On the other hand, mothers recover from physiological stress as a consequence of breastfeeding.