Impacts of ungulates on forest ecosystems are an important conservation issue in the world
today, including fraying damage by deer to trees. Formosan sika deer was reintroduced into Kenting
National Park in 1994; and now damage to the forest by deer has been reported. In this study,
3207 trees (with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of ≥ 1 cm) recorded in a 0.72-ha forest plot in
2013 were used as sample individuals, and fraying damage was investigated in 2014. According to
the survey, 7.6% of sample individuals had been damaged by fraying, and the height of the rubbed
tree-bark was concentrated at 30~90 cm from the ground. In terms of tree diameter, sika deer preferred
saplings with a DBH of 2~3.9 cm for fraying, and the fraying ratio was significantly reduced
on trees with a DBH of ≥ 8 cm. In terms of tree species, sika deer preferred Drypetes littoralis,
Cryptocarya concinna, and Glycosmis citrifolia for fraying, while avoiding Aglaia formosana,
Diospyros philippensis, Ficus benjamina, F. microcarpa, and Planchonella obovata. Fraying by
sika deer causes serious damage to forest saplings and probably impacts the natural regeneration of
forests. In addition, fraying damage to trees reveals obvious species preference, which may lead to
changes in the tree species composition of forests. This article discusses tree selection for fraying
by sika deer.