Study Area
Our sampling frame is the western distribution of the Columbia
black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus ) on the
Nearctic Pacific coastline, within the dry Garry Oak (Quercus
garryana ) savannah (Barlow 2017, GOERT 2021, McCune, Pellatt and
Vellend 2013, Pellatt and Gedalof 2014). This savannah’s Canadian
distribution includes the District of Oak Bay on Vancouver Island,
British Columbia, characterized by small- and large-lot residential
areas, urban development, golf courses, as well as managed and natural
parks throughout. The district is bordered by the Salish Sea to the east
and south (Fig. 1).