Fauna utilization and local ecological knowledge in a community of the Sierra del Tentzo State Reserve, Puebla, Mexico

A study was conducted in an ejido in the Sierra del Tentzo State Reserve in the state of Puebla, Mexico, with the aim of identifying the level of use of forest resources, the attitude of ejidatarios (ejido members) towards wildlife, particularly the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and their knowledge about deer biology and management that they have developed in their relationship with forest resources. Sixty-six of the 96 ejidatarios with full rights were interviewed, using a questionnaire with open questions and statements with a Likert scale to obtain information on sociodemographic issues, use of natural resources, and perceptions and attitudes about wildlife and hunting. A field study was also conducted to determine the population density of deer and their population structure. Results indicate that ejidatarios make intensive use of forest resources and that hunting, although carried out by few community members, has a high impact on the deer population inhabiting the ejido’s lands, which is perceived by the ejidatarios and corroborated by field population density studies.