January 25, 2019 at 4:27 p.m.
GLIFWC assessment: White-tailed deer believed to be less vulnerable to climate changes
GLIFWC assessment: White-tailed deer believed to be less vulnerable to climate changes
Recently, the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) assessed 60 species of fish and wildlife important to tribal members in an effort to study the effects a warming climate might have on them. The first 19 species or beings in the assessment were completed last year.
White-tailed deer, or Waawaashkeshi, is found in a variety of habitats throughout the Ceded Territories. They are found in deep woodlands as well as residential areas and everything in between. Their habitats, in some areas, shift in the winter months as they often migrate and "yard up," in the coldest months. In discussing the species with tribal members, the assessment stated these deer were often referred to as the "canary in the coal mine." Unhealthy habitats lead to population declines in white-tail deer, it was said. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) was mentioned as one large contributor to declining populations of the species. However, climate change could also have some effect, the assessment found.
The good news for this species, according to this assessment, is the white-tail is not as vulnerable to warming climates as other species. It is in the 24th percentile relative to other mammals and only the 19th percentile relative to all other species or beings.
Pathogens, such as Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) may increase with warming climates, the assessment found, as conditions improve for the main vector of the disease, the biting midge. CWD could also have a larger effect on populations if climates continue to favor larger densities of deer. Should the northern range of white-tail continue to expand, there is also the chance that CWD-affected animals could spread the disease to other ungulates in those areas. This could potentially effect species such a moose and caribou.
The assessment also looked at predators. It stated warming climate conditions may also favor predators such as coyotes. The effect of more predators could be to lower densities and population levels of white-tail deer.
Cold temperatures and deep snows, often associated with more frequent intense storms in a warming climate, could cause a direct mortality increase through malnutrition, especially in high-density populations. These weather events may also bring about an indirect neonatal mortality. Increases in lake effect snow as Lake Superior warms is expected, at least initially, which the assessment stated could also have an impact on deer populations. This effect, however, is expected to lessen in time as climate change continues.
While the assessment did not pinpoint climate change as a harbinger of doom for the species, other factors, such as disease and predation, could be bigger issues for the species. Overall, the impact of climate change on the Waawaahkeshi was said to have a neutral effect to a somewhat increased vulnerability of the species.
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