Mellea farm provides goats
. . . and the shepherds to protect them
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Mellea farm provides goats . . . and the shepherds to protect them |
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 Wapiti (Cervus canadensis). Coastal rain forest. Prized by hunters for large size and number of points, Wapiti bucks have decreased in size since the "winning of the West" by Europeans. Culling the largest members of the heard has helped reduce the average size of these deer. In addition, moving members of one population to areas where populations are in decline has encouraged hybridization between populations. It is suggested that the hybridization of different populations has been the most effective process for reducing size. Comparing archaeological remains of Wapiti and Mule Deer dating between 1400-1835 and those killed by the Mount St. Helens eruption in 1980, the average size of modern Wapiti were significantly smaller and intermediate between the larger and more diminutive populations of the past. No significant changes in Mule Deer sizes were shown. Thus it appears that hybridization, rather than hunting, has had the greater effect in the diminution of Wapiti size. |
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