Columbian White-tailed Deer Habitat Suitability Model

The Columbian White-tailed Deer is an endangered subspecies of white-tailed deer.  Once ranging over much of western Washington and Oregon, it now exists in two remnant populations, one of which is located within the Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife Refuge, near Cathlamet, WA.  This location is less than optimal for the long term recovery and viability of this species, due to periodic flooding as well as the existence of man-made and natural barriers which prevent expansion into useable habitats, among other factors.  To address this limitation, portions of this population are being translocated in order to expand the population range and reduce probability of extinction. The Estuary Partnership, in collaboration with the United States Fish & Wildlife Service and with funding provided by the Bonneville Power Administration, has developed a habitat suitability model for the Columbian White-tailed Deer, which encompasses the entire historical range for the species. The model identifies suitable habitats for translocation, based on various landscape attributes including elevation, land cover type, and habitat patch size and connectivity.  

Obtaining the data and additional information