Red deer behavioural response to hiking activity: a study using camera traps

With increasing levels of outdoor recreation activities, consequences for wildlife through interactions with recreationists are highly variable. Behavioural changes in one potential consequence recreationists. In ungulate populations, vigilance and flight responses well-known antipredator behaviours, an increase their level indicates a more intense stress which, ultimately, can have animal fitness. Scotland, the geographical distribution red deer (Cervus elaphus) overlaps greatly areas used popular activities such as hill walking. this piece research, we studied time allocation, vigilance, behaviours near hiking path using camera traps. We positioned cameras transects at different distances (25, 75, 150 m) from recorded activity automated people counter. Red behaviour was categorized photo analysis (1) no response (e.g. feeding resting), (2) vigilant (i.e. upright head position), (3) response. also investigated demographic variables (group size sex) direction movement relative to trail. generalised linear mixed models analyse relation distance track, activity, day, demographic, environmental variables. did not find or activity. These results suggest that deer, our study area, habituated presence hikers may spatially avoid close instead displaying cost-intensive behaviour).