LOCAL KNOWLEDGE AND USE OF WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus mexicanus) IN ILIATENCO, GUERRERO

Abstract

Objective: Analyze the traditional knowledge of the peasants of Iliatenco, Guerrero, on the biology and management of
white - tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and to estimate the population density of this species.
Design/methodology/approach: A questionnaire was applied to 60 ejidatarios from eight communities of the Iliatenco ejido and a descriptive statistical analysis of the data was carried out. The density of the deer population was estimated with the method of faecal pellet counts, sampling 19 transects of 1?400 m.
Results: The peasants of Iliatenco, Guerrero, predominantly indigenous Me’phaa, know the biology of the species and they practice the local hunting of wildlife, without any regulation of it. The interviewees perceive that the deer population is low, which coincided with the field study that estimated a density of 0.028 deer/ha, which is considered low.
Study limitations/Implications: Most respondents speak only the local Me’phha language. This limited full communication, despite the participation of a local translator in the interviews.
Findings/Conclusions: In the community of Iliatenco, Guerrero, there is enormous wealth of traditional ecological