Bed-site selection by desert mule deer in southern Arizona.

We compared bed sites selected by desert mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus eremicus) to nearby random sites to assess bed site features. Thermal cover of bed sites (i.e., vegetation greater than or equal to 75 cm high that provided shade for a deer) was highest in summer ((X) over bar = 43.7% +/- 4.1 SE) compared to spring (29.7% +/- 4.4), winter (33.5% +/- 3.1), and autumn (39.8% +/- 4.0); however, selection for bed sites with thermal cover that differed most from that available randomly was highest in spring ((X) over bar difference between bed and random sites = 14.8% +/- 5.2) compared to summer (8.3% +/- 4.1), winter (6.6% +/- 3.5), and autumn (8.6% +/- 3.5). Thermal cover is likely important as a contribution to thermoregulation, escape cover, protection of fawns, and fawn survival.