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Above: The Chisos Mountains, Big Bend National Park, Texas The Chihuahuan Desert Field Guide is a work in progress. If you would like to volunteer to help build this online field guide contact Rick LoBello at lobellorl@elpasotexas.gov Chihuahuan Desert Field Guide - A work in progress Free Online Book - The Ecology of Carmen Mountains white-tailed deer
The ecology of Carmen Mountains white-tailed deer(Odocoileus virginianus carminis) in Big Bend National Park,Texas, was examined between June 1972 and April 1974. Distribution,habitat, food habits, competition with mule deer (O. hemionuscrooki), and predator—prey relationships are discussed.
Approximately 580 Carmen deer inhabit theChisos Mountains in the park. Their range extends to isolated mountainsoutside of the park and into Mexico but the Chisos Mountains provide themain habitat in the United States. Carmen deer were found most often inpine—juniper—oak (Pinus spp.—Juniperus spp.—Quercus spp.) associations above 4,500 feet (1,373 m). Two components of whitetail habitat were found on all ranges:free-standing water and dense vegetation.
Based on the contents of 25 rumens, forageconsumption included browse (35%), succulents (28%), forbs (14%),and grasses (4%). Unidentified food items made up 19% of rumen contents.Lecheguilla (Agave lecheguilla) and pricklypear (Opuntia engelmannii) were used the most, comprising 17% and 11% of the diet,respectively. Succulents provide a source of moisture and are importantthroughout the year, especially during dry months.
Mule deer inhabit the Chihuahuan Desert surroundingthe Chisos Range and overlap with Carmen deer on lower foothills. Animportant habitat-separating mechanism between the two species appearedto be topography. Forage competition was precluded due to an abundanceof commonly used food items but interference between opposite speciesmay influence habitat selection.
Of whitetail deaths recorded, 24 were of undeterminedcauses or related to accidents, and 25 were killed by mountain lions(Felis concolor). Analysis of 161 lion droppings indicated that 70% oftheir diet was deer. Other predators of Carmen deer include bobcats(Lynx rufus) and coyotes (Canis latrans). A single factor could not be isolated which regulateddeer distribution and population levels, but interspecific behavior,habitat preference and topography, water availability, and predationcombined were the most likely influences.
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