Data for: Seasonal home range and habitat selection patterns of sika deer Cervus nippon in southern Hokkaido, Japan

In 1980 and 1981, eight and nine individual sika deer Cervus nippon were
reintroduced in southern Hokkaido, Japan, respectively, to address
population declines in this species during 1900s. As recent population
growth has led to human–wildlife conflicts, this study investigated the
responses of sika deer to resource availability and geomorphic factors
during the summer and winter seasons in southern Hokkaido. Global
positioning system-collared data collected from 2016 to 2018 were used to
assess the home range patterns and habitat selection of 14 female sika
deer located in Mount Esan and Shiriuchi. The core home range size was
defined using a 50% kernel density estimation that indicated a larger home
range in winter than summer for all deer. Habitat selection was assessed
using generalized linear mixed models. The results showed variation in
habitat selection between resident deer of Mount Esan and Shiriuchi, as
well as migratory deer in Shiriuchi during summer. Resident deer in Mount
Esan and Shriuchi preferred areas closer to crops during summer.
Interaction effects revealed that migratory deer utilized natural
grassland close to forest edge habitat in Shiriuchi. By contrast, resident
deer in Shiriuchi selected forest edge habitat and natural grasslands
close to crops. In winter, low elevation was the most important habitat
factor for all deer across the study area. Thus, sika deer habitat
selection depends on resource availability in summer and topographic
factors in the winter.