You should be intimidated. Stay away.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpRQROkI5rt/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=
On Fri, Mar 17, 2023 at 9:58 AM lrsapin@xxxxxxx <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Have to admit being intimidated by a huge buck and his impressive rack~Judy
when he was in our yard
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On Friday, March 17, 2023, 6:53 AM, Judy Kogod <judykogod@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpRQROkI5rt/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=
On Wed, Mar 15, 2023 at 8:30 PM Susan Peckham <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Read it all, thank you, Mark, for taking the time to write. An accurate
and succinct iteration of an ecology class ca. 1989–As timely and
appropriate now as then, with updated info on birth control!
I wish we weren’t still in the same place. 30 years ago, I never thought
I’d support careful culling, but seeing no improvements in white tail deer
population control, count me in.
Susan@hilltop
On Mar 15, 2023, at 4:55 PM, Mark Verschell <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
I will avoid any of the ethical questions regarding deer (including
judging other’s positions) and just discuss the science and reality. There
is by necessity some talk of these positions, but I hope I do it in a fair
and balanced fashion.
Humans have severely disrupted the natural order, I don’t think anyone
will argue with that. Traditional deer predators were bobcats, grey wolves,
and coyote (to a lesser extent the Eastern Mountain Lion). Bobcats were
largely forced out due to deforestation, but are making somewhat of a
comeback-primarily in western Maryland. Wolves (and mountain lions) were
completely extirpated in Maryland. Someone mentioned coyote making a
comeback, but I don’t think they are at the group hunting stage yet.
So, that leaves deer with no natural predators, and thus no natural
control. What does this mean? It means that deer population is controlled
only by humans, cars, and disease.
I understand the reticence to have deer killed, and if you are a
vegetarian or vegan, I can understand that position. But please read on. If
you are an omnivore, then that position is a little harder to validate.
Obviously meat does not appear in your supermarket or restaurant out of
thin air, so if your concern is the welfare of the animal, let me assure
you that skilled hunters care very much about the quick and humane death of
the animal in question. In contrast, you should know that much of what
Upton Sinclair chronicled in The Jungle has not changed in many
slaughterhouses.
Next is cars. From the deer’s aspect, this may or may not be a quick
death. So there is that. From the driver’s point of view, there are an
estimated 1.5 to 2.1 million deer/car crashes per year with 400 to 450
human deaths as a consequence. The cost runs over 1 billion dollars per
year. As a deer population increases in an urban/suburban area, crashes
between deer and cars increase proportionally.
Along with the deer population/car crash correlation, there is also a
significant correlation of zoonotic disease transmission. Primarily this is
Lyme disease, but it also includes Q fever, chlamydiosis, leptospirosis,
campylobacterosis, salmonellosis, cryptosporidiosis, and giardiasis.
Finally, there is disease (as a catch-all phrase). With only cars removing
deer, their population will increase beyond the carrying capacity of the
environment. At best (?) this will result in habitat destruction of the
local flora. Not only does this drive a mobile population like deer farther
and farther from their natural habitat (into ours) as they seek food, it
also destroys habitat that other species (like song birds) are even more
dependent on (i.e., they can’t just move into the neighborhood
successfully). At worst, deer overpopulation dramatically increases the
spread of disease among the deer population. This includes diseases like
chronic wasting disease, or CWD. CWD is caused by a prion folding error,
and is similar to the disease commonly called mad cow disease. It is highly
contagious, being spread either directly or indirectly through bodily
fluids and it can remain in the environment for years. To date, I don’t
believe there have been any deer to human documented transmissions, but it
does transmit to other cervidae and potentially to some other mammals. It
is currently considered always fatal.
So, when deer are overpopulated, they will suffer increased fatality, and
will likely take other species with them. The question then is “what is the
most humane way to control deer population?”
One alternative method to culling to control population is capture and
release. The main problem with this, besides being required to handle live
deer, is where do you take them? There are few places that can handle (or
that want) a sudden increase in deer population. Usually, they have the
exact same problem! There has also historically been a high fatality rate
during capture and transport.
The other alternative method is controlled reproduction, typically through
either immunocontraceptives or by contragestation. These focus on the
female deer and both have significant logisitical complications.
Immunocontraceptives prevent pregnancy, but not only do females require 2
doses the first year, but they also require annual boosters. In addition,
they need to be treated just prior to breeding season, which is typically
Sept-Dec, so there is a narrow window to successfully find and dart a
large-enough percentage.
The other method, contragestation, has it’s own problems. Basically, this
method causes spontaneous abortion, but is has to be used in a very narrow
window DURING the breeding season (again Sept-Dec). Treated too early,
females will just breed again. Treated too late, and it can cause
significant health risks to the female, extending a normal 20-25 minute
labor to 24-48 HOURS!
There are some newer methods, which focus on males (I heard those cheers).
Normal male sterilization is through castration (I am plugging my ears).
The problem with that is it affects the production of hormones, leading to
suppression of antler growth and drastic changes in male behavior, such as
elimination of mating or mate guarding. This removes that male from the
breeding pool, but doesn’t necessarily lower pregnancy rates. One of the
main alternative methods is the live capture and injection of a scarring
agent in to the epididimus. This prevents the delivery of sperm, but does
not alter hormonal production. There are potential problems with this
method also, such as females who breed with a sterilized male will continue
to cycle and could be bred by a non-sterilized male. One very sad
consequence of this is the potential increase in late season fawns, who
typically have a much lower survival rate over the next winter.
Thus, when all is taken into consideration, I believe that for the present
the most humane way of controlling deer population is selective culling.
There are problems with this method that I won’t go too deeply in to,
beyond community disapproval. Deer can change their behavior in a number of
ways to reduce their exposure to being hunted. However, hunting practices
can be modified to counter these behavioral changes, such as permitting
hunting after dark (in some areas). But when balancing all aspects of the
situation, including the overall welfare and treatment of the deer
population, I still believe culling is the best short-term solution.
I know, too long-didn’t read,
B&T Mark
Email from the Id
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~Judy
Judith Kogod Colwell
Perennial Real Estate
8720 Georgia Ave #302
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Silver Spring MD 20910
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301-325-4388 mobile.
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