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Location
Asheville, North Carolina
Start Date
3-10-1993 12:00 AM
Description
Many metropolitan areas in the eastern United States are experiencing management conflicts associated with overabundant deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations. Sometimes these deer populations exceed the biological carrying capacity of available habitat and wildlife acceptance capacity (Decker and Purdy 1988) of local residents. For nearly 2 decades, a deer management controversy has been developing in Durand Eastman Park and the Town of Irondequoit, located in the greater Rochester metropolitan area, Monroe County, New York. Three local citizen organizations concerned about deer are described, and each has promoted various nonhunting alternatives to reduce human-deer problems. For 15 years, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has promoted liberal archery seasons as the preferred alternative for reducing deer numbers, although the discharge of bow and arrows is prohibited within the Town of Irondequoit and Durand Eastman Park by local laws. During 1992, DEC and Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) organized a Citizen Task Force (CTF) in an attempt to resolve this controversy and reach consensus with community leaders concerning future deer management objectives and alternatives. CTF members exhibited a wide range of values and attitudes concerning suburban deer management. A deer management plan was developed and implemented based on CTF recommendations. This case study emphasizes the need for integrating both the biological and human dimensions to resolve suburban wildlife management issues.
Recommended Citation
Curtis, P. D., Decker, D. J., Stout, R. J., & Richmond, M. E. (1993). Suburban deer management: A matter of perspective. In King, M. M. (Ed.), The Sixth Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference (pp. 4-11). Asheville, NC: Clemson University.
Included in
Suburban Deer Management: A Matter of Perspective
Asheville, North Carolina
Many metropolitan areas in the eastern United States are experiencing management conflicts associated with overabundant deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations. Sometimes these deer populations exceed the biological carrying capacity of available habitat and wildlife acceptance capacity (Decker and Purdy 1988) of local residents. For nearly 2 decades, a deer management controversy has been developing in Durand Eastman Park and the Town of Irondequoit, located in the greater Rochester metropolitan area, Monroe County, New York. Three local citizen organizations concerned about deer are described, and each has promoted various nonhunting alternatives to reduce human-deer problems. For 15 years, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has promoted liberal archery seasons as the preferred alternative for reducing deer numbers, although the discharge of bow and arrows is prohibited within the Town of Irondequoit and Durand Eastman Park by local laws. During 1992, DEC and Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) organized a Citizen Task Force (CTF) in an attempt to resolve this controversy and reach consensus with community leaders concerning future deer management objectives and alternatives. CTF members exhibited a wide range of values and attitudes concerning suburban deer management. A deer management plan was developed and implemented based on CTF recommendations. This case study emphasizes the need for integrating both the biological and human dimensions to resolve suburban wildlife management issues.