Characteristics of Mineral Licks and Behavior of Visiting White-Tailed Deer in Southern Indiana
- 1 October 1978
- journal article
- research article
- Published by JSTOR in The American Midland Naturalist
- Vol. 100 (2) , 384-395
- https://doi.org/10.2307/2424838
Abstract
Characteristics of mineral licks and various facets of their use by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were examined in southern Indiana [USA]. Na levels were elevated in all licks, and Na was judged to be the element sought by deer. Use of licks by deer was maximum in early spring and moderated during the summer and early autumn; no winter use occurred. All sexes and ages except spotted fawns visited licks. Much aggressive interaction occurred at licks with no evidence of formation of a dominance hierarchy; only adult males were clearly dominant. The primary role of licks is the provision of Na during periods of Na deficiency. Requisite characteristics for any attractant proposed as an alternative to Na are discussed.This publication has 5 references indexed in Scilit:
- Adaptations of White-Tailed Deer to Naturally Occurring Sodium DeficienciesThe Journal of Wildlife Management, 1976
- Characteristics of Some Natural Licks in the Sun River Area, MontanaThe Journal of Wildlife Management, 1967
- Relation of Population Density to Sodium Availability and Sodium Selection by Microtine RodentsNature, 1965
- Soil Relations and Distribution Map of the Vegetation of Presettlement IndianaBotanical Gazette, 1965
- Relation of Moon Phases to the Occurrence of Mule Deer at a Washington Salt LickJournal of Mammalogy, 1950