The deer population has seen a dramatic increase since the late 1800s. Before that time, the deer census had been threatened. In the 1900s the deer population rebounded from about 20,000 to more than 1 million. This drastic increase can be attributed to changes in habitat, including reverting abandoned farm fields to forests, and migrations in human population to rural and suburban areas. Both of these progressions created open and forested habitats preferred by deer. In addition, landowners have excluded hunters out of many areas, subsequently, deer populations have increased. “Although the recovery of deer populations from only about 500,000 nationwide in the early 1900s to more than 15 million today is considered a wildlife management …show more content…
success story, many people increasingly view the situation with mixed feelings. In the United States alone there are 1 – 2 million vehicle collisions with large animals annually, resulting in more than 8 billion dollars in economic costs; the majority of these accidents involve deer” (Huijser et al. 2008). According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, “Nationally, about 29,000 people are injured and more than 200 people die each year in DVCs” (Conover 1995). “In Pennsylvania, State Troopers reported 21 human fatalities resulted from DVCs on Pennsylvania’s state and federal highway system from 1996-2001” (17). The more deer there are, the more accidents are likely to occur. Deer and vehicle collision rates are affected by movement patterns, deer abundance, and traffic volumes on roads. “Annual estimates of deer damage are reported to exceed $2 billion nationwide, including $1 billion in car damages, more than $100 million in agricultural crop damage, $750 million in damage to the timber industry, and more than $250 million in damage to metropolitan households (e.g., landscape plantings)”. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, “approximately 1.5 million deer-vehicle accidents happen every year nationally, doing about $1.1 billion in property damage” (Sledzik, 1997).This problem is happening across the country in all types of communities. Although a high frequency of collisions are only one type of problem brought on by deer overpopulation, the overabundance of the species as the animals relate to motor vehicle accidents is one of the most problematic because of its potential to cause harm to human life. Deer are most active at dawn and dusk just as working humans are. The challenge of reducing deer damage involves a variety of ethical and biological considerations. Presently, damage control methods are primarily centered upon effective deer herd management. Deer herd management brings mixed feelings. There are those who are for and those against these wildlife techniques as with any other debatable issue. While not all feel deer herds should be effectively managed or manipulated, many are happy to have the deer around and believe that deer should be allowed natural free-range. “Methods to minimize the number of DVCs without reducing deer herd numbers have been developed but have limited application because of costs (e.g., fencing, deer crossing signs, and reflectors [Pojar et al. 1975, Reed et al. 1982, Bashore et al. 1985, Schafer and Penland 1985, Feldhamer et al. 1986, Wood and Wolfe 1988]), and questionable effectiveness” (18). Deer populations will increase if mortality is low and food is plentiful, and they can double in size every two to three years. There are many methods out there to help lower the number of DVCs but they are said to be time consuming, very costly, and questionable. One of the least expensive and most harmless ways is driver awareness. These include such things as being alert, driving for conditions, watching for deer at night and in the early morning, as well as others. However, there is only so much even the most alert driver can do to avoid a collision with a deer. Deer hunting is the most common way to control deer populations. The annual hunting season is an effective way to reduce deer population; however, buck-only harvests cannot reduce or stabilize deer numbers. When at all possible, harvesting female deer is essential to reducing deer numbers and damage. Limitations should allow for the harvest of a sufficient and legal number of deer. In addition, hunting enthusiasts are not as avid as they once were. Although driver culpability and hunting are the primary, natural techniques used to address area-specific deer problems, these methods will not decrease damage on a wide scale. Roadside reflectors reflect light from car headlights and are used as deterrents for the approach of deer. Reflectors have produced varying success but are still utilized nationwide. Because deer in urban areas are more accustomed to human activity and lights, they may respond less favorably to reflectors than deer in rural areas. Vehicle-mounted whistles produce a noise that is meant to warn animals of approaching vehicles. There is little to no research indicative of whether or not deer are frightened by the particular frequency or decibel level of sound exuded by these Austrian born devices. It would be safe to say that these ultrasonic warning whistles are not alarming to deer and possibly not loud enough to be heard above the engines of moving vehicles. This would mean that wildlife whistles are not effective in reducing deer-vehicle collisions. Marking roadways with relatively high deer activity with warning signs is another attempt at reducing vehicle accidents. Motorists generally disregard these signs. In addition, fences are installed along roadways and highways as a preventative measure for deer-vehicle collisions. The effectiveness of fencing along roadsides is very limited unless properly maintained. Breaks in the fencing must be repaired immediately as these breaks allow for deer to cross into traffic. Height is the major consideration as a fence must be at least eight feet high to prevent deer from jumping the fence. New deterrents are being tested for managing deer. A study tested coyote hair as a repellent. Coyotes are one predator of deer. The research was conducted in relation to farm crop preservations. Researchers used hair from a dead coyote placed on fencing to study behavior in white-tailed deer. The hair was found to have a limited measure of repellency. Deer did not circumvent the snow fence nor enter through the front opening. The deterrent was area specific but did not hinder the deer from their established trail movement. Another trialed, preventive tool for counteracting deer and vehicle collisions is the electrified mat. The electrified mat was derived in an attempt to modify behavior in white-tailed deer. The mat is constructed of recycled plastic that is molded into boards. A deer stepping on the mat receives an electric shock. The reaction of the deer is ideally to jump back and leave. When the control mat was first put down deer would begin to walk on the mat and then back away from it and jump over the snow fence. “After the first 2 weeks deer began walking on the control mats but not the treated mats. Researchers anticipate that the number of deer that would learn to get by the mat would be small” (Seamans, et al., 2008). Biological control is a relatively new approach. This control method involves administering immunocontraceptives (birth-control) to female deer. While the experimental studies have been successful in preventing reproduction, they are not likely to become available as a field-applicable contraception for years. In conclusion, safe and defensive driving is the only way to reduce the risk of having a deer-vehicle accident.
High populations of deer result in numerous deer-vehicle collisions and pose a serious threat to motorists. As was mentioned previously, it is estimated that each year in the United States 29,000 people are injured and more than 200 lose their lives in deer-vehicle collisions. More than 50,000 deer-vehicle collisions are estimated to occur in New York alone each year. According to McShea, “In 2009, the insurance industry estimated that 2.4 million deer–vehicle collisions had occurred over the previous 24 months, with an estimated cost of over 7 billion dollars and 300 human fatalities” (p.3). It is hard to ascertain an accurate number of collisions because many incidents go unreported. Research indicates that preventative methods currently being implemented, such as deer whistles and reflectors are ineffective. Nighttime imposes demanding and critical driving conditions that cannot be accommodated sufficiently or satisfactory by drivers. Deer are mainly nocturnal beings but are not restricted to night movement only. Autumn is deer breeding season and in many areas, deer hunting season. During this time, deer are more active and, as a result, they are on roadways more often. Deer and vehicle collisions are a major problem and occur nationwide. From little rural areas to densely urbanized communities, no community is
excluded.
There are too many deer in the Wesselman Woods. The deer have eaten all the flowers and other flora. There have also been 8 car crashes involving deer, this imposes a dangerous threat to the civilians of Evansville. The deer have been invading people’s yards and eating their gardens. The deer are causing many problems that can’t be solved until the deer population is reduced.
The causes of rising conservation include overhunting, recognizing its importance. These newfound awareness results in new policies that preserve everyone equally. When people started to see the decline of wildlife animals including bison and many colorful birds it caused a rise in conservation. A cause of the extermination of bison is “From the Great Slave Lake to the Rio Grande, the home of the buffalo was everywhere overrun by the man with a gun; and, as had ever been the case, the wild creatures were gradually swept away, the largest and most conspicuous forms being the first to go. ”(Doc.2)
amount of game allowed to kill. Today we have an abundance of deer in Kentucky,
When people talk about deer, they are commonly talking about the North American Whitetail. That is because they are so prevalent in this country. They can be found in every state in the US. The only place where you will not find any whitetails is in parts of Arizona and California. In most states the whitetail is very prevalent, especially in the northeast. They are one of the most hunted animals in this area, particularly in Pennsylvania and Michigan. Despite the amount they are hunted, both in and out of season, you can not drive more than a few miles out of the towns without seeing one that was hit by a car. The deer population in this area just keeps growing. It is unclear what should be done to stop the over population of this beautiful creature. Perhaps different hunting seasons or longer seasons are the answer. Possibly we should focus more on the development of birth control for the female deer, or maybe repopulating wolves into the areas where the deer population is too great. Something has to be done.
The author provides information describing the deer population in parts of New Jersey; yet, he does not include any data regarding the population in the rest of the United States, nor does he include any sources of where this information was obtained. A reader may be more
Thesis: The population of white-tail deer in Alabama has drastically increased over the past century causing significant damage to property and homeowners, caused by hunters being less active.
Thousands of animals are put to sleep each year due to not having any available homes for them to be adopted. According to Jennifer Sexton and Tom Warhol in Domestic Animal Overpopulation, “The average female cat can produce two litters of six kittens per year, a female dog can produce one litter of six or more puppies per year, making pet overpopulation a significant problem.” Animal overpopulation is costing money and you can help the pets with spay and neutering programs. A new solution is mandatory contracts for breeders and spay and neuter programs. This paper will talk about spay and neuter programs, contracts for breeders, and why some people don’t think animal overpopulation is a problem. Thankfully there are solutions to this issue of animal overpopulation.
QDM: Can Your State Make It Happen? Deer and Deer Hunting November 1999 Krause Publications Inc.
A study showed that it was estimated that 1.23 million deer-vehicle collisions occurred between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012 (Insurance Journal). In that small time frame, those accidents cost more than 4 million dollars. During mating and migration season, those numbers rise. One could tell from experience that deer collisions are very dangerous not only for the driver, but for the deer as well.
White tailed deer are the largest game animal in North America. This is due to their over abundance and annoyance to farmers. An average of 300000 deer are hunted down each year. A tragedy has been another 3000 are hit by cars every year. Many human efforts have been made to prevent these accidents, such as fencing and deer repellents near freeways, but many seem to think that hunting and controlling the population is the best way.
In 1989, there were 12,152 deer-vehicle accidents in the USA in which four people died and over 450 people were injured (7). What humans do not realize is the damage deer are causing to their environment, the human population, and themselves. Until a decision is reached regarding deer population control, the present state of overpopulation will continue to affect humans and the environment alike.
Fall is just around the corner, meaning that it’s almost deer season and time to plan where to get some venison this year. Of course, there is no question that Alabama has plenty of deer, providing Cotton State hunters’ ample opportunities to bring home some meat.
Since the beginning of time man has been hunting animals for food. Even before fire, man needed to hunt, because hunting was the only way to eat. At first man used things such as spears and rocks to kill its prey. As man evolved, they started using bows and arrows. Next came an early model of what we use today, the firearm. It is powerful yet easy to carry around. It puts the animal through less suffering and is a lot more efficient than previous techniques. Hunting was once a necessity, but now it is a tradition, passed on from father to son as a way to spend time together, enjoy the outdoors, and experience what our ancestors went through in hunting their dinner. Since it is considered a sport some think we are killing off the deer population, when in actuality, “While most other big-game species have declined with the spread of urbanization, the whitetail has been able to adapt to its ever-changing environment. Through the efforts of state agencies and conservation groups like Whitetails Unlimited, wildlife officials estimate today’s whitetail population to exceed 30 million” (www.whitetailsunlimited.org).
The most popular form of deer control is hunting. Hunting is a helpful management tool for keeping deer from becoming overpopulated. When European settlers arrived, the deer were hunted for meat and hide without thinking of management. After 100 years, deer were threatened with extinction in N.C. Today deer populations are 1.25 million in NC. Hunting can help regulate this population if done correctly. (Hartiganand Osbourne). Hunting helps the deer population by decreasing the likelihood of overpopulation. Without hunting, deer would overpopulate an area and they would be forced to go elsewhere for food. This could lead to them wondering into cities and highways causing car accidents. Without some type of deer control, they multiply. Since deer have lost some land areas due to cities growing, they do not have enough food and start to slowly starve. Thus hunting is a good choice for deer management.
In the last decade, from the Rockies to New England and the Deep South, rural and suburban areas have been beset by white-tailed deer gnawing shrubbery and crops, spreading disease and causing hundreds of thousands of auto wrecks. But the deer problem has proved even more profound, biologists say. Fast-multiplying herds are altering the ecology of forests, stripping them of native vegetation and eliminating niches for other wildlife. ' 'I don 't want to paint deer as Eastern devils, ' ' said Dr. McShea, a wildlife biologist associated with the National Zoo in Washington, ' 'but this is indicative of what happens when an ecosystem is out of whack. ' ' The damage is worse than anyone expected, he and other scientists say. Higher deer densities have affected growth, survival, and reproduction of many plant species which have aesthetic, economic or ecological value. In some cases, many species of trees have also been shown to have reduced growth as a result of high deer density (Environmental Benefits of Hunting, 1). Deer prefer certain plant species over others and frequently feed on economically valuable tree species. For example, they prefer oak and sugar maple seedlings, as well as acorns, over less palatable species like American Beech and striped maple. Thus, less marketable species are more likely to survive to maturity,