MAMMALS OF MARYLAND 



160 



of over a thousand animals (Flyger, 1964, p. 213). Most of these, how- 

 ever, are located in the southern portion of the island in Virginia. 



Sika deer can be hunted in Maryland during the regular deer hunt- 

 ing season, and nearly every year a few have been taken in Dorchester 

 County. However, these deer are wilder and more timid than native 

 white-tailed deer, and are more difficult to stalk. Because they are 

 primarily nocturnal in habits many local people are even unaware of 

 their existence in their neighborhood. 



The sika deer has been introduced into various European countries, 

 some of which are not pleased with the species since it is too secretive 

 and wild to be a satisfactory game animal, and has a propensity for 

 peeling bark from trees and competing with other species of deer for 

 food (Flyger, 1959, p. 24). Whether it is a potential boon or threat 

 to sportsmen in Maryland is still uncertain. 



Little is known of the biology of this species in Maryland. In the 

 Soviet Union where the animal has been widely introduced, Flerov 

 (1952, pp. 128-129) reports that they are gregarious and that during 

 certain periods their herds consist of many dozens of animals. Kutting 

 begins in September and lasts for II/2 to 2 months. Eutting takes a very 

 stormy course and is accompanied by roaring and terrific battles. After 

 the rut, the males gather together in herds and remain apart from the 

 females during the entire winter. Females with 2- or 3-year-old young 

 also gather in separate groups just prior to winter. Calving occurs 

 toward the end of May or June, generally one fawn, but occasionally 

 twins, being produced. 



These deer swim readily and sometimes will cross large bodies of salt 

 water. Their food in Maryland is probably similar to that of the white- 

 tailed deer, and it is feared that in areas where the sika deer becomes 

 well established the native white-tailed species will not be able to com- 

 pete for the available food supply. 



Specimens examined, — Dorchester County: James Island, 8. 



Remarks. — Presnall (1958, pp. 48-49) listed sika deer as occurring 

 on Assateague Island, but incorrectly identified the deer from Dor- 

 chester County as hog deer {Axis porcinus) . As pointed out by Flyger 

 (1960a), not only are the Dorchester County animals Cervus nippon^ 

 but very probably they derive from the same stock as the Assateague 

 Island populations. 



In addition to Sika deer, Maryland supports small populations of 

 introduced fallow deer {Bama dama). Presnall (1958, p. 48) says that 

 a few animals remain from introductions in Worcester County (Mills 

 Island in Chincoteague Bay) between 1920 and 1930, and in Talbot 

 County between 1935 and 1945. Fallow deer are native to the Medi- 

 terranean region of southern Europe and western Asia, but have been 

 widely introduced in northern Europe and the United States, where 



