Data for: Monitoring the effects of ovariectomy on seasonal movement behavior in suburban female white-tailed deer using Internet of Things-enabled devices

Abundant deer populations often cause conflicts in suburban communities,
but traditional population reduction methods, such as controlled hunting,
can be challenging to implement in these contexts. Fertility control,
specifically through ovariectomy, can limit reproduction and reduce
populations in certain settings, yet its effects on movement behavior
remain poorly understood. Concerns persist that hormonal changes affecting
movement could lead to increased physiological demands and influence
deer-vehicle collision (DVC) risks. We evaluated the effects of
ovariectomy-induced anestrus on the seasonal movement behavior in female
white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) using Internet of Things (IoT)
biologging devices connected via a low-power wide-area network (LPWAN).
From 17 January 2023 to 1 June 2024, we collected telemetry data from
ovariectomized (treated) and untreated (control) female deer in South
Euclid, Ohio, USA, and quantified seasonal movement patterns using 7-day
home-range size, daily diffusion, and daily excursivity. Both groups had
overall similar home-range size, diffusion, and excursivity. Untreated
females exhibited seasonal increases in home-range size, diffusion, and
excursivity leading up to and during the breeding season (late
July–November). During and after parturition (late May), untreated females
reduced home-range size and overall mobility. Treated females did not
exhibit strong seasonal behaviors; however, diffusion differed
significantly between groups. These findings suggest that ovariectomy
removes hormonal triggers that typically drive seasonal movement changes.
We found no clear evidence that ovariectomy increased excursive behavior,
nor that it led to higher DVC risk, although our sample size was
limited.  LPWAN-enabled IoT tracking proved to be a low-cost,
low-power, lightweight method for wildlife monitoring, compared to Global
Positioning System biologgers, but data frequency was irregular at times.
Our findings suggest ovariectomy is a safe management tool for abundant
deer populations. However, we recommend further research to build on our
findings and highlight both the potential and limitations of IoT-based
biologging for wildlife research.