The Effects of Deer on the Ecosystem
Deer pose a strong ecological impact on the composition, dynamic, and functions of the forest ecosystems. They directly modify the composition and the structure of the vegetation, and indirectly affect other species of the ecosystem through modification of the structure of the vegetation. In the photos below, you can see some deer that were caught with wildlife cameras that are present off-trail at Wild Basin. Although deer can be problematic to the vegetation, they also are a source of food for other organisms such as bobcats and coyotes, both of which are present at Wild Basin. If you're hiking the trails around dusk, you may be lucky enough to spot a few deer on the way back to your car!