Deer Kidney Fat Offers Insight Into Herd Health, Biologists Say

Deer biologists say fat surrounding a deer’s kidneys can reveal key information about herd health. The kidney fat index (KFI) is calculated by weighing the fat around the kidneys relative to the kidney weight, offering a measure of nutritional status.

Biologists remove the fat during routine herd health evaluations and weigh it separately to determine the animal’s body condition. More kidney fat indicates good nutrition and healthy habitat, while less fat may signal stress from limited resources.

These assessments help wildlife managers monitor herd health over time. The data informs management decisions to support sustainable deer populations, according to wildlife biologists.

Three images illustrating the process show biologists carefully removing and weighing the fat as part of their evaluation efforts.

Source: Original Article