Wondering how a drone could help estimate the density of white-tailed deer at Wild Basin?
Danica, Andrew, and Lexington are graduate students who became interested in conducting research at Wild Basin. They wondered about the different ways in which they could monitor the numbers of white-tailed deer in the preserve. When deer occur in high densities, they can alter plant communities and reduce habitat quality, so it is important to keep track of their density over time. There are several methods that can be helpful in estimating deer density, including driving surveys, motion-triggered wildlife cameras, and a drone equipped with an infrared camera. The research team will be using all three methods this fall to estimate deer density in Wild Basin. The team will compare and analyze all 3 methods in an attempt to calculate a more accurate and robust estimate of white-tailed deer density within the preserve.