Pearson correlations (r) for fixed effect variables used in our modeling exercises.

First, we examined if the detection of Trueperella pyogenes on one mucosal layer was associated with higher chance of detecting it at other mucosal layers. White-tailed deer were sampled along the forehead, nose, and tongue for presence of T. pyogenes. The prevalence of T. pyogenes on these mucosal layers across deer sampled at each site was used as predictor variables in subsequent modeling exercises to determine if associations with increased risk of cranial abscess disease at the site level. We then ensured no collinearity between the age and gender. No variables were significantly correlated enough to be excluded from being in the same model (cutoff of r = ± 0.70).