Does temporary baiting affect white-tailed deer space use and movement? New insights leveraging subhourly location data

Temporary baiting is often used to increase detection rates during camera
surveys, particularly for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus).
However, the effects of bait on deer space use and movement have not been
examined using location data sampled at intervals matching typical
bait-site visits. We defined three bait periods (pre-bait, bait,
post-bait) to evaluate the effects of presence and removal of bait (i.e.,
shelled corn) on deer space use and movement relative to control deer not
exposed to bait. We captured and fitted 61 deer (32 F, 29 M) in central
Texas with GPS collars, that attempted a GPS location every 15 minutes
from 22 July to 2 September 2012–2013. Of these (3 recaptures), 41 (20 F,
21 M) and 23 (15 F, 8 M) collars were assigned to the impact and control
groups, respectively. We used generalized linear mixed-effects models to
evaluate the effect of bait on daily estimates of range size (ha), range
overlap (proportion, 0-1), distance of activity centers to the nearest
bait site (m), and distance traveled (m/15-min) by deer. Deer exposed to
bait expanded ranges and moved more during the active period (crepuscular,
night) but moved less during the inactive period (day) relative to the
pre-bait period, indicating complex, time-dependent responses. Deer
exposed to bait did not shift their activity centers toward bait sites
when bait was present. After bait removal, deer continued foraging within
previously established ranges rather than abandoning the area. These
results suggest that temporary baiting is unlikely to attract deer from
outside their normal ranges, and bait removal is unlikely to cause deer to
leave established areas, preserving the closure assumption. Our findings
have implications for wildlife managers concerned about post-bait
movements and improve understanding of time-dependent behavioral responses
to supplemental food resources.