Effects of different habanero extract concentrations on the feeding behavior of sika deer (Cervus nippon)

Abstract

Repellents that contain capsaicin are used as one of the measures against feeding damage due to deer ; however, their concentrations differ among deer animals. In this study, we investigated the effect of capsaicin concentration on the behavior of deer feeding. Four adult bred female deer were tested, and 8mL of habanero extract (control, 0% ; 0.062% ; 0.62% ; 6.2%) with different concentrations was sprayed on 300g of solid feed using the Latin square method, and the feeding behavior of deer was investigated. The results showed that the concentrations in the 0.62% and 6.2% treatments were significantly lower than those in the control and 0.062% treatment (P<0.05). It also, the difference was the same until the 3rd day after the start of the experiment, but on the 4th day, no significant difference was observed between the control, 0.062%, and 0.62% treatments. The tongue licking behavior was highest in the 6.2% treatments compared to the other treatment groups (P<0.05). Therefore, it was clarified that the habanero extract used in this study suppresses the feeding behavior of deer at a concentration of 0.62% or more, but when presented for 4 days or more, the effect may become accustomed.