Behavior in an Introduced Population of Fallow Deer during the Rut

-The behavior of introduced European fallow deer (Dama dama dama) was studied prior to and during the rut at Argonne National Laboratory, Illinois. Data on associations among age-sex classes, interaction rates and times budgets were collected in daily observation periods near dawn and dusk. Fallow deer in this population exhibited a nonterritorial breeding system wherein adult males moved between undefended groups of females in search of estrus females and defended these groups from other adult males. Such associations between a male and a group of females generally lasted for less than a day. Adult males showed the greatest change in behavior during the rut in comparison to yearling males, females and fawns. Adult males altered their associations, initiated more aggressive and reproductive interactions and greatly decreased the time spent foraging during the rut.