European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) fawns are characterized by their high mortality rate. This study examined the spatial activity of young fawns during the critical period and the causes of their neonatal mortality. Data on the spatial activity during the critical period was obtained by monitoring subjects equiped with micro-ear clips with built-in VHF transmitters, and data for the analysis of neonatal mortality was taken from Hunting Information System Lisjak database. All data was processed in Microsoft Excel and/or ArcGIS Pro software. Methodologically, the search for fawns was most successful when observing from high perches. The use of thermal imaging cameras is effective for detecting animals in a vertical view. During the first month of life, the fawns stay mostly in meadows and in dense forest vegetation in areas of 100–150 m in diameter. Their movement in the absence of disturbing factors are shorter than 50 m. In their first summer, 2/3 of fawns are recorded killed by mowing, followed by traffic and predation. Early mortality caused by mowing peaks in early June, followed by predation and traffic mortality peaks in late August. In the neonatal period, many more female fawns die. Spatial distribution of mortality by gender in Slovenia is quite even. Relative recorded neonatal mortality and relative density of fawns are not directly proportional. In the records, maximum number of cubs die 500–1000 m from human settlements. Depending on the distance from the forest edge, most of them die in the range of 0–200 m. The areas where death occurs most often reach values of the forest fragmentation index of 6000–7500. In the first year of life, most individual die due to shooting (hunting). Among the other causes, traffic leads the way, followed by mowing and predation. Most of tbe fawns die from being run over in October, and from predation in December. It is important to be aware when interpreting the results that they are based on data on recorded mortality and therefore do not reflect the state in nature.
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