Data and code for: Carnivore exclosures to protect sheep affect the distribution of a wild cervid

In southeast Norway, two carnivore exclosures were set up to protect sheep from large carnivores. The fences consisted of wire strands that were powered during the summer grazing months. While one of the fences (study area Trysil) was put to the ground from fall to spring, the other (study area Grue) was still mounted, but now powered during non-grazing season. We tested whether moose (Alces alces) distribution and density was affected by the exclosures, by counting fecal pellet groups inside and outside of the exclosures (treatment) during spring and fall 2022. The dataset contains the number of fecal pellet groups of different cervid species and domestic sheep inside and outside of the exclosures during two seasons in both study areas, and some habitat covariates.

Methods
Fecal pellet groups were counted on sample squares consisting of five sample plots each. Sample plots were 10 m2 for roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and 100 m2 for moose, red deer (Cervus elaphus) and sheep. For each sample square, the main predictor variables describe the season (winter 2021/22 or summer 2022), study area (Trysil or Grue), and the treatment (inside or outside of the carnivore exclosure). In addition, there are several covariates describing the habitat of the square. A more detailed description of the study areas, sampling methods and variables is available in the publication (https://doi.org/10.1002/wlb3.01301).