Red deer exhibit spatial and temporal responses to hiking activity

Outdoor recreation has the potential to impact spatial and temporal distribution of animals. We explore interactions between red deer Cervus elaphus hikers along a popular hiking path in Scottish Highlands. placed camera traps transects at different distances (25, 75 150 m) from study whether distance hiker activity influences number detected. compared this with detection an additional, spatially isolated area (one km away any other path). collected count data on start explored hourly (red during daytime), daily, diurnal (day versus night) monthly distributions deer. Using generalized linear mixed models forward model selection, we found that changed activity. fewer were detected busy periods. daytime, more m than 25 m. Moreover, day, greater rate around close likely be night. This suggests avoidance by deer, area, takes place over are displaced into less disturbed areas when is busy. Our results suggest short-term, as return