Sampling and genetic analysis
We collected 300 non-invasive white-tailed deer fecal samples in 2016 and 401 samples in 2017 during two (2016) and five (2017) sampling occasions (Table 1). Samples were found on 72% (2016) and 79% (2017) of the 92 sampling plots.
In total, 32% of the samples were successfully genotyped to the level permitting individual assignment (11 to 14 loci) in both years. Genetic summary statistics with per locus and mean values are presented in Supplementary Table S1. We identified 38 different white-tailed deer individuals (26 females and 12 males) in 2016 and 66 individuals (41 females and 25 males) in 2017. In total 17 (14 females and 3 males) of the individuals captured in 2017 were also present in the 2016 data set. In 2016, samples of identified individuals were found on 43% of the plots and in 2017 in 51% of the plots. In 2016, we recaptured 50% of the individuals one to four times and in 2017, 44% of the individuals one to six times (Table 1). In 2016, only 17% of the genotyped males were recaptured, whereas 65% of the genotyped females were recaptured (Table 1). In 2017, 40% of the genotyped males and 46% of the females were recaptured.