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By Amy Alford, Lake Erie Islands
Nature and Wildlife Center
Did you know that fall and winter are mating seasons for many of our Island’s wildlife? By late fall, male White-tailed Deer, the bucks, have entered an annual phase known as the rut where they have an increased interest in females, the does, and often fight with one another for the chance to mate with as many females as they can. In fact, bucks can mate with upwards of 10 does each season. If you have ever had a chance to witness bucks competing for a doe, it’s spectacular for the eyes and ears as the bucks butt heads and make crashing sounds as they wrestle with their antlers. By now in February, most does are pregnant. Here on South Bass, the does often have twins or triplet fawns in early June. But it’s just not the deer that have gotten hit by cupid’s arrow. Coyotes are now a part of the Island ecosystem and winter is their prime mating season. Though only present in Ohio since the early 1900s, coyotes now serve as the only wildlife predator in many corners of Ohio where species like wolves, wolverines, and bobcats once were once king. Coyote bonding and mating is happening now and with the ice coverage this year, you may see a coyote or two traversing across the frozen landscape looking for love. Different from deer, male coyotes will pair-bond with only one female each season. Pups are born in April and May and live together in large families or packs, though a large pack does not currently exist on South Bass.
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