Données préliminaires sur la tendance grégaire chez le chevreuil (Capreolus capreolus L.) en milieu ouvert, durant l’automne et l’hiver; comparaison avec le milieu forestier

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Abstract
Roe deer gregariousness was observed in open field areas (Monceaux, Oise) during fall and winter. Mean size of groups was 5 individuals, no more than 2% of deer were solitary, and some groups had 20 animals or more. In the beginning of spring, these herds disappeared and the number of solitary animals rose significantly. Compared with those obtained on forest populations, these data show a stronger gregariousness in open field than in forest (mean size of winter groups: 2.0). Large groups observed in open field seem to result from conjunction of several family units of the standard winter forest type: female + young .+-. male. The strong gregariousness seen in the open field may be an adaptation to lack of cover providing shelter.