Deer and elk cause damage in plantations primarily through which activities?

• A. Browsing seedlings
• B. Trampling
• C. Bark removal from antler rubbing
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

Deer and elk damage plantations through several feeding and physical behaviors, so multiple damage pathways come into play. They browse seedlings, taking off leaves and shoots and often removing terminal buds, which stunts growth, reduces survival, and can alter the future stand structure. They also trampling through stands, especially on soft soils or in dense patches, crushing young plants and compacting the soil, which harms establishment and root growth. In addition, during the fall rut, bucks rub bark off trees to shed velvet and mark territory; this bark removal can girdle stems, exposing the inner tissues to pests and decay and killing or weakening young trees. Because all three activities occur, the overall impact on a plantation comes from more than one damage mechanism, making all of these relevant activities the best description.