Originally Posted by
bluebird2
Have you ever tried to apply your theories on the effects of stress on real world situations like VF and Getttysburg. The deer in those areas are severely over populated and have severely over browsed habitat yet they continue to survive and increase the population. Can you explain why stress isn't limiting the population and why the bucks aren't dropping dead from the stress of breeding all those doe?
Very good question. Not sure about gettyburgh but here's my two cents on valley forge. I believe the reason these deer are surviving is because of the properties that neighbor the park. The deer wreak havoc on the neighbors landscapes; and I'm sure there's a few people whop put out corn. Basically, even though they've exhausted the resources in the forest itself, I think they still manage to get by with what's available on the fringes.
One interesting thing I have noticed (not just saying this because it supports my point) is that all they bucks shed their antlers very very early. I'm talking late december early january. As I mentioned previously, early antler casting can be a sign of a stressed deer. Also, I never really see any monsters in there, I'm sure there's some there, but less than you would expect given the deer density, and ability for bucks to reach old age. The park dosen't seem to be pumping out the 150+ bucks that the neighboring areas are.