Over half the fawns that were collared on Ft Rucker died...true.

We did not document any wild pigs killing fawns...but it has been documented as happening...although it hasn't been documented often.

The reality is that every deer population (no matter how healthy or how few predators) has >50% mortality of the fawn crop each year. Does on average will produce 1.7 fawns each year (100 does will drop 170 fawns). Extremely high recruitment rates (fawn:doe ratios when the fawns are about 6 months of age) are around 0.7...meaning only 70 fawns are around for every 100 does. This means that 100 ourt of 170 fawns die (just shy of 60%). Marginal recruitment rates are about 0.5 (50 fawns/100 does...70% mortality rate).

If you can keep your mortality rate less than 70%, then you are probably OK. Mortality rates >70% is where we are likely getting into trouble.

Keep in mind that fawns die due to LOTS of things other than coyotes and other predators. Malnutrition, abandonment, accidents, parasitism, disease, and others are all significant factors of mortality in even healthy populations...but obviously worse in overpopulated herds.

The point is, just because you see fawns disappearing, or you know that coyotes are predating some fawns doesn't mean that your herd is being negatively impacted. It's only when that predation starts to cause overall fawn mortality rates to exceed 70% that you start run into problems.