fertilization rate for the entire sample was comparable to the 

 92% rate recorded for the statewide sample ( Pac 1979). 



Fetal rate during 1984 was 1.47 fetuses per pregnant 

 female (15 females - 22 fetuses) and fawn-at-heel ratio at 

 parturition was 1.39 f awns : female. For 1985, fetal rate was 

 1.33 fetuses rpregnant female (9 females - 12 fetuses) and 

 fawn-at-heel ratio at parturition was 1.25 fawns : female. 

 Those data indicated an in-utero loss of 5.4% and 6.0% in 

 litter size between March and parturition for 1984 and 1985, 

 respectively . 



There must have been high rates of late gestation 

 abortion or resorption, early neonatal abandonment, and/or 

 late births during 1984 and 1985. Two of 19 fawns radio- 

 collared during June 1984 were abandoned by their mothers 

 after birth. Both were the smaller member of sets of twins; 

 the larger twin, also handled and marked, was not abandoned in 

 either case. All 15 females collected in February and March 



1984 were pregnant. As determined by behavior, social 

 grouping, and appearance, 28% of females were classified as 

 non-pregnant during mid-June 1984. Only 8% of all females on 

 the area were too young to have bred. Although 9 of 10 

 females collected during March and April 1985 were pregnant, 

 21% of all females were classified as non-pregnant in mid- June 

 when only 3% were too young to have bred. 



The following scenario was indicated for females under 

 increasing nutritional stress. Initially, almost all breed 

 and become pregnant. Ova were shed at near normal rates, but 

 substantial numbers were not fertilized (18%+ in 1984). A 

 relatively small loss in average litter size occurred in utero 

 (5.4% in 1984 and 6.0% in 1985). A major loss of fawns 

 occurred as females aborted their fetuses shortly before 

 parturition or abandoned fawns at or shortly after parturition 

 (20% in 1984 and 17% in 1985). It was also possible that 

 females classified as non-pregnant during mid-June in 1984 and 



1985 were pregnant, but had late births. Those females may 

 not have had the appearance of pregnancy or exhibited behavior 

 of parturition by mid-June. If late born fawns died shortly 

 after birth, their occurrence would have been hard to detect. 



The only major changes from the scenario during the 

 second year of nutritional stress were that fewer females 

 became pregnant and fewer ova were shed than normal (20% fewer 

 in 1985). The females that did not become pregnant probably 

 were mostly first year breeders and older females in very poor 

 condition. Other patterns of loss in potential production 

 were similar to those of the first year of nutritional stress. 



113 



