ODFW Western Oregon Deer and Elk Habitat including Winter Concentration (2015)

Identification Information

Citation

Originator: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Publish Date: 2015

Online Link: None

BPA Project #:

Contact Information

Agency: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Name: Chris Cowin

Job Position: Wildlife GIS Analyst

Telephone: (503) 947-6098

E-Mail Address: Chris.D.Cowin@odfw.oregon.gov

Description

Abstract: This document addresses two species of deer (Columbian black-tailed deer: Odocoileus hemionus columbianus and Columbian white-tailed deer: Odocoileus virginianus leucurus) and one species of elk (Roosevelt elk: Cervus canadensis roosevelti).

Purpose: Generally, deer and elk need habitat which provides a combination of food, water, and security to survive and reproduce. Abundance, distribution, and connectivity of these habitats are crucial to species survival and may vary seasonally depending on a specific species dependence on migratory or non-migratory behavior to fulfill life history requirements. Habitats supporting Black-tailed deer exhibiting a predominately migratory life history are subdivided into Summer Concentration Habitat and Winter Concentration Habitat. Habitats supporting Black-tailed deer and Elk exhibiting a predominately non-migratory life history are subdivided into Year-around Major Habitat and Year-round Peripheral Habitat. Columbian White-tailed deer habitat is described as occupied habitat. Lastly, areas where the presence of deer and elk are considered in conflict with primary land uses are described as Impacted Areas. Specific deer and elk habitat descriptions are as follows: Occupied Columbian White-tailed Deer (CWTD) Habitat: Critical, year-round habitats including brushy deciduous trees and shrubs and/or oak savanna habitats providing functions and values necessary to satisfy all CWTD life history needs. Much of these habitat areas, although impacted by anthropogenic development, are the only remaining available habitat for Columbian White-tailed Deer in Oregon. Category 2 – essential and limited habitat. Winter Concentration Area: Winter seasonal concentration areas include areas identified and mapped as providing essential and limited functions and values (e.g. thermal cover, security from predation and harassment, forage quantity, adequate nutritional quality, escape from disturbance, etc.) for concentrated migratory deer or elk typically from November through April. Category 2 – essential and limited habitat. Summer Concentration Area: Summer seasonal concentration areas include areas identified and mapped as providing essential and limited functions and values (e.g., thermal cover, security from predation and harassment, forage quantity, adequate nutritional quality, calving and fawning areas, etc.) for concentrated migratory deer or elk typically from May through October. Category 2 – essential and limited habitat. Year-round Major Habitat: Year-round major habitat includes areas identified and mapped as providing essential functions and values (e.g., thermal cover, security from predation and harassment, forage quantity, adequate nutritional quality, calving and fawning areas, etc.) for non-migratory deer or elk. However, these habitats are not limited on a physiographic basis. Category 3 – essential and not limited habitat or important and limited habitat. Year-round Peripheral Habitat: Year-round peripheral habitat includes areas identified and mapped as providing important functions and values (e.g. cover, forage, etc.) for deer or elk. However, these habitats typically do not provide essential functions and values and are occasionally subject to land owner actions to discourage deer and elk use but are not identified as deer or elk de-emphasis areas. Category 4 – important and not limited habitat. Impacted Area: Impacted areas include areas identified and mapped subject to anthropogenic development such as areas within urban growth boundaries, city limits, otherwise determined to be less suitable habitat for deer or elk because of conflicts with proximity to humans, disease, damage, or public nuisance resulting from use by local or resident deer or elk. Although these areas may support substantial numbers of deer or elk, traditional proactive management actions are often not possible and/or ineffective due to local ordinances and proximity to people. Impacted areas may still provide habitat functions and values for other fish and wildlife species but habitat categorization should not be based on deer or elk use.

Time Period of Content:

Geographic Extent: Oregon

Status: Final

Use Constraints: None

Format: Shapefile

Data Quality Information

Lineage-Source: ODFW

Data Information

No data information was supplied.

Entity and Attribute Information

Attributes Description: Field attribute information is available in the database table field descriptions.

Is a physical copy maintained for reference at Headquarters? Unknown