Deer Management News This Week

Montpelier’s Deer Debate August 19, 2018 Vermont, The Bridge
... according to Nick Fortin, Deer Project Leader for the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, the statewide deer population is expected to be about 155,000 before the 2018 deer seasons. This is 10,000 more than last year’s estimate of 145,000..,

Axle, They 'invaded.' They're destroying yards. But this Texas town says they can stay August 18, 2018 Fort Worth Star Telegram (blog)
... Residents and city officials say deer have always roamed Azle, but a recent homebuilding spree wiped out their habitat... Azle City Manager Tom Muir said he and Police Chief Rick Pippins will not recommend the city ban deer feeding...

Wildlife commission takes final vote on CWD zone changes August 17, 2018 Mississippi, The Clarion-Ledger
... Response operations in Mississippi's portion of the CWD Management Zone provided 481 samples for testing and CWD was not detected in any of them. Statewide, 1,800 samples have been collected since October 2017 and none tested positive. In Louisiana's portion of the CWD Management Zone ... none tested positive ...

Residents Concerned with Deer Getting Hit August 17, 2018 Idaho, KPVI News 6
... fruit falling from trees is what’s drawing the deer to the area... getting hit on South Bannock Highway...

Deer population a topic in some communities August 17, 2018 Michigan, PetoskeyNews
...  there is evidence to indicate the number of deer in most of Northern Michigan is growing... one potential reason for the increase could be that recent winters have been less severe... “It’s an issue, and we just deal with it by not planting flowers the deer will eat,” Center said...

... Delaware State Representative Rich Collins has announced he is personally looking into introducing legislation at the start of next year's session to create crop insurance specifically directed towards deer damage...

Chronic wasting disease could spread faster than expected August 16, 2018 Minnesota, Winona Daily News
 ...They’ve been tracking them ... trying to get a sense of where and how quickly chronic wasting disease could spread.  “One of our female animals has traveled approximately 80 miles,” ... Since the fall of 2016, 17 cases of chronic wasting disease have been found in the wild deer population of southeastern Minnesota...

Here’s why the deer hunting season is off to a slow start in 2018 August 16, 2018 South Carolina, myrtlebeachonline.com
... You’d really have to want to hunt a deer bad, giving the conditions, 95 degrees and mosquitoes... During the 2017 deer hunting season, South Carolina became the final state in the nation to institute a state-wide limit on the harvest of bucks, plus a first-time tagging system ...

... "A deer can run farther after being shot by an arrow than it can after being shot with a rifle ... It makes the control of that, keeping it low visibility, keeping it from traumatizing young children, a lot harder to do." ... A vocal group of citizens spoke against using an archery hunt or culling ...

... For over 20 years the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission have been testing thousands of deer for chronic wasting disease.  Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Official Keith Stephens ... ''We didn't find it until 2016, but we've continued to test and we are still finding positive deer...

Drop in mule deer population being addressed August 16, 2018 Washington, La Grande Observer
... The question is being asked with an increasing sense of concern on the wildlife front: Why are mule deer populations gradually declining in Oregon? ... One potential cause they are looking at is a rising number of Rocky Mountain elk in Oregon... up 6 percent since 2013. The state had 74,227 Rocky Mountain elk in 2016, up 4,654 from 2013 when it had 69,573...

Iowa City Officials Again Consider Sharpshooting Deer August 15, 2018 Iowa Public Radio, 
... “I used to think that shooting the deer would solve the problem, until I noticed that over the course of the years that the sharpshooting program was in operation, we still had a large deer count," Klaus said. "Sharpshooting isn’t enough, or isn’t the way to solve this problem.” ... other residents don’t want the deer killed at all, hoping the city will opt instead for large-scale sterilization ...

Wildlife Advisory Committee votes to recommend suspending deer program August 15, 2018 Texas, Austin American-Statesman
... nets are dropped electronically to capture deer. Deer antlers are then removed before moving the deer to a truck to be transported for euthanasia ... “It’s going to involve a lot of research into other methods that are humane in order to manage deer populations..."

... The city's new request for sharpshooting was denied by the Iowa Natural Resources Commission for the lack of public input. The NRC instructed the city to gather input before moving on which sparked Tuesday's public forum held at city hall... Many mentioned that they believed sharpshooting was a temporary fix for the current state and urged for a long-term solution to be developed...

Wisconsin deer metrics system places important data at your fingertips August 13, 2018 DNR News
... Metrics provided in the system include deer harvest figures, population trends, deer impacts on agriculture and forest resources, herd history, deer herd health, deer hunter surveys and more for the area you hunt! To check out this new webpage and learn more about Wisconsin’s deer herd, visit dnr.wi.gov and search keywords “deer metrics.” ...

This video highlights the addition of one new fawn found in late July by the Laramie County Conservation District crew. The LCCD is following a gps collared doe, Jane Doe, during a two-year study with Central High School. This study helps students understand the movements of deer within an urban setting and contrasts it with large scale migrations of those wild herds in the rest of our home state. While this doe has added to the Cheyenne population, the district will search for more fawns over the next couple of months. - August 13, 2018 Wyoming


DCNR director warns of chronic wasting disease August 13, 2018 Alabama, Selma Times-Journal
... Chuck Sykes, the Director of the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division ... about the possible threat of chronic wasting disease (CWD) that could impact the deer population in Alabama.  “It is something that I don’t want to scare you,” he said. “But it is something that I want you all to understand this is the most serious that we have to deal with right now.” ...

... Following years of controversy ...  the committee voted unanimously to recommend the city suspend the trap, transport and process program ...

DNR invites public to attend deer open houses August 13, 2018 Minnesota, news.dnr.state.mn.us
... Anyone interested in deer can talk with area wildlife managers from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at meetings scheduled across the state meant to encourage discussions about deer and deer management, enhance local relationships and foster two-way communication... one of the first steps identified for implementing the state’s new White-tailed Deer Management Plan...

... "Siberian musk deer are native to the forests and mountains of Russia and northern Asia," the Akron Zoo says. "Musk deer are small, weighing from 15 to 35 pounds ...

Seneca White Deer,  A seminal moment August 12, 2018 New York, Finger Lakes Times
... in 2016 ... three harsh winters had passed and the Depot land was still in a transitory stage of ownership, leaving the deer without proper nurturing ... the once 200 white deer herd had diminished to a mere 75... We are excited about the Ecotourism Park ...

Delaware opens Sunday deer hunting August 11, 2018 Delaware State News 
... Senate Bill 198 legalized Sunday hunting across the whole season established by the state ... increased deer-related property damage reported by farmers and a desire to increase recreational hunting accessibility and opportunity for the state’s hunters...

The incredible benefits of sagebrush-juniper in the West August 10, 2018 Idaho, Idaho State Journal
... federal and state land management agencies continue to log and burn these incredibly important native ecotones to increase grass for cows... provide hiding and thermal cover for elk and deer ... also consumed by pygmy rabbits and mule deer...

Hastings-on-Hudson program uses contraception to reduce fawn rate August 10, 2018 New York, The Journal News | LoHud.com
...Four years into the village deer contraception program... the mayor said, "there are far, far fewer fawns which you typically see at this time of the summer — I can't say that I've seen a single one ... If the white-tailed deer population is found to have been substantially reduced, the village will adopt a regular contraception protocol...
     Project looks for ways to lower deer population August 10, 2018 New York, Westchester News 12
... immune contraception...  a method to test if the population is in fact getting smaller... "Fifty households all around the village put a hasta plant in a pot and they check it every day, and then they report back in how long that plant has survived without being eaten," said Dr. Lemons. “We saw a doubling of the time that those plants would survive.” ...

West Virginia DNR set to begin 'spotlight surveys' of deer herds August 10, 2018 The Herald-Dispatch
... Every year since 2012, agency biologists have slowly cruised the state's roads, shining powerful spotlights and counting every deer the beams illuminate... the spotlight surveys have essentially shown that population estimates based on the harvest were pretty accurate...

Trail cam project Snapshot Wisconsin goes statewide August 9, 2018 University of Wisconsin-Madison
... the volunteer-run wildlife monitoring program Snapshot Wisconsin started rolling out, this innovative project is going statewide... The DNR uses the trail cam data to model deer and their predators and to provide recommendations to county deer advisory councils...

... Mountain lions generally eat just under one ungulate a week, preying on an average of 38 deer each year according to a study from 2010... mountains and foothills ...there's four to five mountain lions and 1,300 to 1,900 deer per 100 square miles... desert habitats that support the animals have sparser populations. Per 100 square miles in those areas, there's two mountain lions and around 750 deer at best. ...

Deer Permits For The 2018/2019 Hunting Season To Go On Sale August 15 August 9, 2018 Rhode Island, RI.gov: Rhode Island Government
... The cost of each deer permit for residents is $12.50 online or $13.00 at a sales agent; for non-residents, the cost is $25.50 online or $26.50 at a sales agent for each permit. The cost for the resident "All Outdoors" deer permit is $75.00 online or $78.00 at a sales agent...

DNR board signs off on enhanced deer farm fencing August 8, 2018 Minnesota, Minneapolis Star Tribune
... The rule calls for deer farms that have had a CWD infection to install a second fence or solid barrier. CWD-free farms would have three options: add a second fence, add a solid barrier or add an electric fence...
     Nothing about CWD management is easy, but Wednesday's action is an important step August 8,2018 Minnesota, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
... Hunters who kill a deer in a CWD-affected county will be required to quarter the deer or bone it out before moving it out of the county.  The rule allows portions of the carcass such as the spinal cord to be left on public land where the animal was harvested...

... The initial goal was to stabilize quail and dove populations ... after building a bunch of those that once the deer found them and the coyotes and everything else found them, they were drinking out of them ...

Investing in muleys August 8, 2018 Wyoming, Powell Tribune
... Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead and Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke have come together to help protect designated mule deer migration corridors in Wyoming.  They announced last week that the department will prioritize the conservation efforts by deferring sales of mineral rights and putting lease stipulations on public land...

Wildlife biologist Bryan Richards explains CWD/chronic wasting disease. - August 8, 2018


Keith Warren, host of Deer and Wildlife Stories, assembles an expert panel to discuss the effects of CWD. Keith is joined by expert panelists: Dr. Greg Stewart D.V.M. MS PHD Veterinarian & Microbiologist, Paul B. Stonum D.V.M Texas Tech University, Dr. Ernest E. Smith Texas Tech University, and Tim Condict Executive Director of Deer Breeders Corporation. The panelists discuss the truth about Chronic Wasting Disease - August 7, 2018


... The BLM has offered to sell multiple oil and gas leases in the Red Desert to Hoback mule deer migration corridor ... Secretary Zinke is clearly prioritizing energy dominance over mule deer...

... This region is considered to have some of the highest quality deer habitat in the state of Michigan... 1,400 acres ... includes more than two miles of frontage on the Gogomain River ...

The land lies adjacent to large shoreline parcels owned by the State of Michigan along Raber Bay 
EHD, Deadly New Insect-Borne Virus Targeting Arizona Wildlife August 6, 2018 KNAU Arizona Public Radio
... About 30 deer have died since the new strain of epizootic hemorrhagic disease was detected in the West for the first time last year... 

Could fencing funneled to existing underpasses on I-25 help wildlife and prevent wildlife-vehicle collisions - August 6, 2018 Wyoming


State Extends Archery Season for Deer August 6, 2018 Massachusetts,  Martha's Vineyard News
... The reason for the extension is the heavy deer population in those areas, where upwards of 80 deer per square mile are estimated, well above the management goal of six to 18 deer per square mile... [information on optimal deer density]

... “We know now, after years of research, that about 30 to 40 percent of mortality of adult moose comes from brainworm ... That is the largest single mortality caused to moose, and our deer numbers are already lower than 10 per square mile, so it stands to reason that’s not enough.” ...






Searching the internet to find and conserve deer information.  

Deer in the News
 
Deer Rescued From Well In Wilmington, Delaware August 19, 2018 Delaware, CBS Philly 
... A deer is safe thanks to an alert resident walking his dog in Wilmington, Delaware...

Firefighters battling the Holy Jim wildfire pause to save the life of dehydrated deer August 13, 2018 California, The San Diego Union-Tribune 
... They provided her with water and helped her get back on her feet ...

... stationed in Redding to help firefighters battle the massive Carr fire when they found a baby deer struggling to escape burning bushes. They pulled the animal out before it was injured...


This is another video from the water hole that I have maintained in my backyard in Tucson, Arizona for almost 40 years. This one features a bobcat and a desert mule deer at the water hole at the same time. The deer just kept a couple bushes between her and the bobcat. - July 29, 2018



  ...  fawn following its mother into the water ... the little one started swimming over to the boat ... the Miles family took the fawn over to the bank, and watched as mother and baby headed back into the forest...

Ranch owners share white-tailed pets with summer campers July 25, 2018 Pennsylvania,  CourierExpress
... white-tail deer have become family to Rusty and Roger “Shorty” Snyder, the owners of Double Diamond Deer Ranch...  In the beginning, the Snyders had deer as pets, but after so many people would come to visit them, they turned their pets into a business...

From 1939: This video shows you Wyoming the home of the elk,grouse and moose.


... the young female deer first showed up in her backyard with the zip tie a few weeks ago... deer's ribs were visible and she appeared to be foaming at the mouth ...


Every Morning, This Woman Calls Out To The Woods. Who Emerges To Greet Her Will Melt Your Heart. - July 23, 2018


Keeping a deer as a pet illegal in Delaware July 23, 2018 Delaware, 6abc Action News
... Wildlife police rescued a white tail fawn from an apartment near Wilmington ... individual was fined $107 ...




Why Seeing Deer is Just as Enjoyable as Hunting Them July 20, 2018 Wyoming, Wide Open Spaces
... Sometimes I enjoy seeing deer as much as hunting them. Sometimes I like just seeing deer even more ... During my short time living in Wyoming, it became something of an obsession for me to capture photos of urban deer in the area. In fact, I had one of my most memorable whitetail encounters ...

Backyard adopted by deer for nursery July 19, 2018 Washington, The Spokesman-Review 
... There was a tiny fawn curled up in the grass where mama deer had left it while she went off foraging. I may be a city girl, but I know enough to leave a baby deer alone, recognizing that mama is off feeding...

 
 Three fawns rescued from bottom of a well in Seward July 18, 2018 Nebraska, Omaha
... deer’s cries of distress ... Three fawns, thought to be only about a week old, had fallen into an old well that sits on the property of a neighbor...  neighbor, who lay on his belly and scooped them out ...


Siberian musk deer fawn born at the Akron Zoo July 13, 2018 Ohio, Canton Repository
... Siberian musk deer are native to the forests and mountains of Russia and northern ... get their name from the musk that they secrete during mating season... kangaroo-like faces and the “fangs” (large canine teeth) on the males...

... The mother deer watched from afar, poking her head through a tree line.  The officers then carried the baby deer past the fence before he ran to the woods ...