White Tail Deer
White tail deer populations have exploded over the past few decades. Improved
wildlife management, habitat and declining interest in hunting have combined in
helping deer populations rise to levels unmatched this century.
Here are some facts that should get your attention. "TALLYING THE HIGH COST
OF ROAD KILL"
Stories By DAN BURKHART Of The Gazette Staff (Montana, Dec, 2000)
Last year, at least 120 people in the United States were killed by collisions
with wildlife, and thousands more were injured.And the number of accidents is
rising. Last year more than 750,000 accidents nationwide involved animals and
caused at least $1.2 billion in vehicle damage, according to the Insurance Information
Institute. In 1998, at least 500,000 collisions were reported."
According to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Press
Release of 10/28/99, November and December are the peak months for vehicle/deer
collisions in the state. To protect yourself remember 1. deer are most active
at dawn, dusk and at night. 2. Bucks in search of does can be oblivious to cars.
3. If you see a deer cross the road, be prepared for it to act erratically.
4. If you see one deer cross the road, look for others. Deer tend to follow
the leader.
For information on the costs of deer collisions with cars click http://www.statefarm.com/educate/antlers.htm
For more information on
Deer and Car Collisions
Fawns often seen in May/June
May is fawn month, at least here in the Massachusetts Area. Don't touch them. Leave
them alone. Many people who try to help fawns actually end up harming them. According to
the MDFW, May 14, 1999 press release,
"For their first two weeks of life, white-tailed deer fawns rely on
the camouflage of their spotted coats, a natural lack of scent and an uncanny ability to
remain motionless to avoid detection by predators. The fawns spend their early days
nestled in tall grass or other available ground cover and are visited periodically by
their mothers for feedings. The doe will make a "bleating" call, the deer's
version of ringing the dinner bell, and the fawn will emerge to nurse. Fawns will then
return to a hiding place and await the next visit by the doe. When people encounter a
hidden fawn, their first reaction is that the deer has been abandoned and needs help. Not
true!
The fawn is following its instinct to remain motionless and let danger pass. Leave it
there and quietly move away. Handling a fawn is not only harmful to the animal, it can
expose people to the threat of rabies. A fawn from the town of Concord tested positive for
the rabies virus in 1998 and several people who had touched the animal required
precautionary medical treatment. Intervention would only be necessary if a doe was known
to have been killed and a very young fawn was lingering in the area. Under those
circumstances a MassWildlife biologist or Environmental Police Officer would respond.
Fawns may not be kept by the public or taken to wildlife rehabilitators. "
Click If You Care Leave
Them There
Reducing
Deer Damage to Home Gardens and Landscape Plantings by Paul Curtis
Ph.D. et. al
22 pages 5"x8" sized pages.On-Line Ordering: Click ONLINE
Cost $9.95 plus S &H
This booklet outlines some basic and effective strategies you can apply to
help protect your valuable gardents and bushes from being dined upon by White-tailed
deer. Written by biologists who have extensive field experience, we are confident
that you will find this booklet a valuable written resource. You will learn
which plants deer prefer, fences that keep deer out of your garden and when
to use repellents.
Other Resources on Deer
http://www.whitebuffaloinc.org/default.php
a non-profit organization dedicated to deer research
USA Today 12-22-00 weekend edition page 17a
We have learned that there was a huge article on the problem of deer herd overpopulation
in this country, and the detrimental effects they create. It sheds a positve
light on hunters and illustrates how the anti's ballot box initiatives should
not replace sound game management.
Connecticut Wildlife Sept/Oct p. 9 "Research on Deer Movements Provides
Insight on Habitat Use of Urban Deer" by Howard Kilpatrck. Study found
that undeveloped patches of 40 acres associated with 32 acres of residential
development were enough to sustain urban deer on an annual basis. The study
also found that deer were only 33% of the time 500 feet or more away from a
structure (the required minimum distance to hunt in Connecticut) so hunting
with a firearm probably isn't the answer. Bow hunting however was effective.
Off-Line Ordering Information
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While we encourage the use of our secure on-line ordering system. Click
Secure. We understand how some of our customers
have concerns with on-line credit card purchases prefer to pay with money
orders etc. For those of you who wish not to use on-line ordering please
follow the instructions below.
To determine the total cost of the purchase please follow these steps.
1. Click the purchase online link of the product you wish to purchase.
(Don't worry you will cancel before the transaction is complete).
2. You will be taken to the Miva Secure Server. Put the number of the items
you want in the Quantity form. Then Click Add to Basket. The page will reappear.
Then click in the upper right hand corner "Checkout"
3. You will be asked if you want to create an account. Simply click "Place
Order Without Account". Then type in whatever you want for your name,
street address, phone number and e-mail. Just be sure that with your fake
e-mail you set it up as fake@nothing.com. The computer doesn't know if it
is a real address or not. But it does recognize if it isn't set up properly.
4. Type in the correct City and State and Zip Code. This information is
used by the computer to determine shipping costs.
5. Click "Continue". When you submit the information, (most of
which is fake) you will be forwarded to a page that gives you options for
shipping. In the shipping section, click the arrow. A form will come up
that will list the prices of the various ways you can have the product shipped
to you.
6. Click "Continue" and you will be forwarded to a page that
will total the cost of the product and shipping. At this point, simply leave
the site or turn off your browser. Note you have not put in your credit
card number or even your full address. You can now send a money order to
our address below. Or if you wanted to fax or call in your order, you will
know what the total cost of the item(s) will be.
 
Disclaimer: WDC seeks to provide accurate, effective and responsible information
on resolving human/wildlife conflicts. We welcome suggestions, criticisms to
help us achieve this goal. The information provided is for informational purposes
only and users of the information use it at their own risk. The reader must
consult state/federal officials to determine the legality of any technique in
the reader's locale. Some techniques are dangerous to the user and to others.
WDC encourages readers to obtain appropriate training (see our informational
literature at our Store ), and understand that proper animal damage
control involves patience, understanding that not every technique/method works
for every situation or even 100% of the time. Your use of this information is
governed by this understanding.
We welcome potential users of the information
and photos to simply ask for permission via e-mail. Finally, WDC welcomes
e-mail but understand that all e-mails become property of Wildlife Damage Control.
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