The par force hunting landscape in North Zealand

Finding common ground: how hikers influence white-tailed deer space-use patterns in a UNESCO biosphere reserve

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of North Zealand's par force hunting landscape do not avoid hikers, contrary to expectations. A study using unbaited motion-activated camera traps found no spatial or temporal avoidance of hiking trails by deer, challenging assumptions about human-wildlife interactions in protected areas. This suggests that factors such as habituation to humans, trail-altered habitats, or the use of humans as predator refuges may play a role in deer distribution. The research highlights the need for further investigation into how recreation influences wildlife behavior and browsing pressure, which could inform management strategies for overabundant deer populations.