Effectiveness of Predator Fecal Odors as Black-Tailed Deer Repellents

Abstract
Pen bioassays were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of predator fecal odors as deer repellents. Aqueous extracts from predator feces were more effective than BGR (4.9% [putrescent] egg solids) and as effective as BGR-P (36% egg solids). In test 1, browsing reductions for the predator feces tested were: bobcat (Felis rufus)-51%; mountain lion (F. concolor)-27%; wolf (Canis lupus)-17%; and coyote (C. latrans)-8%. The efficacy of fecal extracts in test 1 correlated with the concentration of predator feces in initial formulations (5, 10 and 20% by weight). In test 2, increasing the concentration of feces to 30% for bobcat and mountain lion did not increase their repellency. Fecal orders of predators significantly suppressed the feeding activities of black-tailed deer (O. hermionus columbianus); additional laboratory and fieldwork are needed before predator odors can be used operationally.