Key deer  (Odocoileus virginianus clavium)

The Key deer had a very close brush with extinction in the late 1940s as a result of over-hunting; by the start of the 1950s there were just 25 deer remaining (2). Well-enforced bans on hunting and protection from disturbance allowed the population to slowly recover to 579-678 individuals in 1998. Unfortunately, habitat destruction and human-caused mortality and disturbance continue to pose threats to the survival of the Key deer. The main threat facing this deer at present is habitat loss and fragmentation. Fencing and increasing development forces the deer to cross roads where they are at risk from traffic, and can prevent them from being able to reach water sources (2). Important food plants and habitats are being affected by introduced plants, which are out-competing the native species. Roadkills are the biggest source of mortality, responsible for over 50% of deaths (3). Other causes of deaths include poaching, running by dogs, drowning in ditches, entanglement in fences, and feeding in rubbish bins, which often results in foreign bodies becoming caught in the digestive tract (2). Humans often illegally feed the deer, which affects their natural patterns of movement, causes them to lose their fear of humans and increases susceptibility to parasites and disease (3). Furthermore, this deer is highly susceptible to losses caused by chance events such as hurricanes and sea-level rise, because of its restricted distribution (2).

The Key deer was officially listed as federally Endangered throughout its range in 1967 (2). Much of the range of the Key deer falls within the boundaries of the National Key Deer Refuge and Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, both of which are managed for Key deer and other endangered species (2). Roadkills are being tackled by establishing speed zones and erecting warning signs at deer crossing points (2). A local citizens' group, the Key Deer Protection Alliance, is working to increase public education and awareness, and supports action projects and habitat preservation (2). As human populations continue to increase, it is likely that habitat loss to development will continue and road mortalities will rise. The future of this diminutive deer will unfortunately remain uncertain, providing that the threats it faces continue (2).