Which species is often affected by vegetation management practices?

The species that is often affected by vegetation management practices is deer. Vegetation management typically involves altering plant communities to control the growth of undesirable species and promote the health of desirable ones. This can significantly impact deer populations, as their habitat and food sources can be directly affected by such practices.

For instance, clearing, mowing, or applying herbicides can reduce the availability of browse (the leaves and twigs that deer feed on) and alter the structure of the habitat they depend on for cover and foraging. These management practices can either enhance or degrade the quality of the environment for deer, depending on how they are implemented.

In contrast, while insects, large mammals, and bats can also be influenced by changes in vegetation, deer are specifically known to have their populations and behaviors closely linked to those management strategies due to their reliance on specific plant species for sustenance and shelter.