VIGILANCE BEHAVIOUR IN ROE DEER (CAPREOLUS CAPREOLUS L.): PRELIMINARY DATA FOR THE ROLE OF HUNTING PRESSURE IN NP VITOSHA, BULGARIA
ELITSA POPOVA1*, NIKOLA DOYKIN1,2, VALENTIN ZLATANOV3, DIANA ZLATANOVA1
1 – Department of Zoology and anthropology, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Sofia, Bulgaria
2 – Nature Park Vitosha, Sofia, Bulgaria3 – Advanced Wildlife Technologies and Management, Sofia, Bulgaria
* Corresponding author: elitsa.d.popova@gmail.com
Keywords: vigilance, behaviour, roe deer, hunting
Abstract: Vigilance is an aspect of animal behaviour, which is often underrepresented in camera trap studies. In the current study, we provide preliminary camera trap data analysis on the differences in vigilance behaviour in two areas of Vitosha Mountain, Bulgaria (with and without hunting pressure). Our results suggest that in locations where hunting is permitted through the year, roe deer tend to be more vigilant (explained by the heightened perceived risk) but some of them are more sedentary, spending relatively longer periods of time in front of the camera trap. This could be attributed to the supplementary feeding in the hunting area, which results in higher densities of ungulates (thus increased competition and consequently smaller home ranges).