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Myths Exposed!
Spikes are genetically inferior to other bucks and should be culled out as part of a management plan.
Photo Courtesy of Matt Jenkins
For years and years hunters with good intentions have culled spikes out of their hunting properties. Characterized as being genetically inferior hunters had no reason to doubt this line of thinking. Now we know different. Many factors can affect the expression of antler growth aside from genetics including injury, drought, disease, and food avialability. Now lets go back to genetics. Once a spike always a spike? Dr. James Kroll and Dr. Ben Koerth set out to find the answer in their "Do Spikes Equal Poor Genetics?" study. What they found over their 10 year study was that when spikes were allowed to grow to atleast 3.5 years of age the antler size was the same as their multi-point coharts.
Photo Courtesy of Matt Jenkins
For years and years hunters with good intentions have culled spikes out of their hunting properties. Characterized as being genetically inferior hunters had no reason to doubt this line of thinking. Now we know different. Many factors can affect the expression of antler growth aside from genetics including injury, drought, disease, and food avialability. Now lets go back to genetics. Once a spike always a spike? Dr. James Kroll and Dr. Ben Koerth set out to find the answer in their "Do Spikes Equal Poor Genetics?" study. What they found over their 10 year study was that when spikes were allowed to grow to atleast 3.5 years of age the antler size was the same as their multi-point coharts.
Hummingbird feeders must be taken down prior to winter migration or these birds will not migrate.
First of all artificial feeders represent a small portion of a hummingbirds food intake. Aside from this an internal biological clock operating off of external cues such as light contol when and where a bird will migrate. Leaving feeders up will not affect a hummingbirds migration.Fires and logging are a lead destroyer of habitat and wildlife.
Despite the enduring misconception, fires and logging can serve to benefit habitat and wildlife. Picture this if all forest were never burned or logged our region would be covered with explosive fuel loads (i.e. leaves, limbs, pine needles) and old growth forest. Old growth forest are a vital part of a healthy diverse forest but many species need new growth such as saplings and bushes to survive. Longleaf pines forest are dependent on frequent fires to reduce competition as are Red Cockaded Wood Peckers being dependent on Longleaf pines. In North Carolina, typically the only desirable species harmed is the Eastern Box Turtle. Logging and burning when done correctly within guidlines only alter the habitat into a different stage of succession. Smokey the Bear himself can be to blame for the negative view of fire as a management tool.
Despite the enduring misconception, fires and logging can serve to benefit habitat and wildlife. Picture this if all forest were never burned or logged our region would be covered with explosive fuel loads (i.e. leaves, limbs, pine needles) and old growth forest. Old growth forest are a vital part of a healthy diverse forest but many species need new growth such as saplings and bushes to survive. Longleaf pines forest are dependent on frequent fires to reduce competition as are Red Cockaded Wood Peckers being dependent on Longleaf pines. In North Carolina, typically the only desirable species harmed is the Eastern Box Turtle. Logging and burning when done correctly within guidlines only alter the habitat into a different stage of succession. Smokey the Bear himself can be to blame for the negative view of fire as a management tool.
A full moon and cold snap bring the rut into full swing.
The rut is brought on by a decreasing photperiod that occurs in early winter. A moon pha
se such as a full moon can alter the way a deer interprets the light period (long day vs. short day). Biologist have been able to alter when deer breed as well as when they develope and cast their antlers using synthetic light cycles. A cold snap while not affecting the rut itself can affect the way it is expressed as deer typically move more under cold conditions. Does under light studies have been entrained to breed in the summer time. Interestingly, bucks that had not been munipulated by synthetic light cycles were able to breed the entrained does.
The rut is brought on by a decreasing photperiod that occurs in early winter. A moon pha
se such as a full moon can alter the way a deer interprets the light period (long day vs. short day). Biologist have been able to alter when deer breed as well as when they develope and cast their antlers using synthetic light cycles. A cold snap while not affecting the rut itself can affect the way it is expressed as deer typically move more under cold conditions. Does under light studies have been entrained to breed in the summer time. Interestingly, bucks that had not been munipulated by synthetic light cycles were able to breed the entrained does. 
Albinism in White-tails is caused by inbreeding.Albinism is not a direct effect of inbreeding. Inbreeding, although counter productive to the species, can either increase or decrease the chance of a deer being an albino. This is dependent on whether the herd is a carrier of the trait (typically characterized by a lowercase a in genetic tables). Albino deer are just as healthy as "normal" deer. These unique animals are just missing the melanin pigment which creates color in the eyes, skin, and hair.
