Suburban Whitetail Management of North Georgia
Interesting facts about Whitetail deer and how they effect our lives.
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General Facts
In areas of overpopulation, deer cause an over browsing affect called a "browse line". In areas with a browse line, most plant species
below the browse line are stripped bare damaging the habitat for many species. These brows lines can be from four to six feet high.
Deer establish a territory and will not leave it.
Deer are known to starve rather than leave their domain.
Just 2 deer without predation can produce a herd of up to 35 deer in just 7 years.
Deer can live up to 12 years in the wild.
Under optimal conditions without regulating factors like predators or hunting, deer populations can double in size annually.
Two of the considerations used when establishing a deer management plan are Biological Carrying Capacity (BCC) and Cultural
Carrying Capacity (CCC).
Deer Damage and Problems
A recent survey of U.S. farm leaders revealed that as many as 56% believed they had suffered crop damage by wildlife and the
Whitetail deer was named as the primary culprit.
Pennsylvania farmers suffer crop damage of an estimated $30 million annually, Wisconsin estimates it's farmers are hit for $37
million annually.
Back in 1995, conservative estimates place deer-car collisions in the us at over 500,000 annually.Vehicle damage is in the hundreds
of millions of dollars. In Georgia alone, there are 51,000 accidents!
The annual damage in New Jersey alone is estimated to exceed $10 million dollars. These accidents resulted in thousands of
injuries and over 100 deaths.
Suburban home owners spend thousands of dollars replacing landscaping plants defoliated or damaged by deer.
In 1995, Lyme disease was considered to be the fastest growing infectious disease next to AIDS. Some scientists see a strong link
between high deer densities and Lyme disease.
In Pennsylvania, a state that tracks deer-vehicle collisions, there are over 40,000 deer-vehicle collisions annually.
Based on Pennsylvania's experience, VDGIF conservatively estimates the annual vehicle damage caused deer-vehicle collisions to
exceed 25 million dollars.
Even more important is the cost in human life. During the 1985-1994 period, 12 fatalities were reported as a result of deer-vehicle
collisions in Georgia.
Deer-Car Collisions
The burgeoning Whitetail deer population throughout the suburban areas of Georgia is resulting in an increasing number of conflicts
between deer and people. The most serious of these are collisions between automobiles and deer. These can result in extensive
property damage, bodily injury, and in some cases even death.
Health Concerns
Another area of concern involves health issues. Whitetail deer are the primary host to deer ticks, the carrier of several human
diseases. The best known of these is Lyme Disease but ticks also carry other diseases with even more grave consequences. In
addition to tick borne diseases, deer herds can become infected with other diseases that at this time are not known to effect humans
like EHD. Diseases similar to EHD are found in domestic animals like horses, cattle, and sheep. Although not firmly established,
there is some concern that inter-species transfer is possible from deer to horses. Top
Property Damage
Property damage is another result of the growing Whitetail population. Home gardens and landscaping are expensive in both financial
terms and in the homeowners time and efforts in maintenance. Even when natural foods abound in local area, deer are often attracted
to the rich succulent plants of the backyard landscape. Natural foods are limited by the natural pH and nutrients of the soil and are in
competition with neighboring plants for sunlight. In the backyard, trees, plants, and gardens are usually enhanced by things like pH
normalization, fertilizer, and pruning. In addition, the woodlot openings created by our home sites provide additional sunlight to our
domestic plantings. When natural food supplies are limited either seasonally or by over use by deer, the backyard becomes a magnet
for deer. Top
Environmental Impacts
Whitetail deer in large numbers can cause significant habitat damage even on relatively large tracks of land like some of our parks.
Deer are primarily browsers. Over browsing in an area can have a negative environmental impact. Thick and diverse near ground
cover provides the nesting sites needed by many species of birds. It also provides food for other animals. Over browsing creates an
unbalanced situation. Some browsing tolerant plant species flourish at the expense and even elimination of other less tolerant
species. Red Top Mtn State Park would be an example of this type of problem.Top
Animal Rights, Stewardship, and Exploitation
It is a simple fact of life today that people in today's society have very diverse viewpoints concerning the relationship between man,
nature, and the environment. As America has become first urbanized, then suburbanized, the percentage of Americans working on
farms has diminished greatly. Farm life allowed people to gain first hand experience with animals from many different perspectives.
The family dog was a faithful friend and companion as well as a working asset on the farm. Livestock were a precious resource. They
were managed and tended with care but their eventual slaughter provided both much needed food and income to the farm. Wildlife
was viewed as both and asset as well as a competitor. Bees pollinated the crops, worms composted and aerated the soil, deer fed
on crops and coyotes, wolves, and foxes would pray on livestock. Other wildlife species like squirrels and songbirds were viewed as
neutral.
For many years as cities and suburbs grew, peoples' close up experience with animals became more and more limited to life with the
family pet. It is no wonder that over time the view of many Americans toward animals has changed. To some, they are all warm and
furry creatures needing help and protection. Others take an even more extreme view, anthropomorphizing animals and bestowing
"rights" on them. Others, even more extreme, view these "Animal Rights" as eclipsing the rights of man.
On the other side of the coin we have exploitation of the environment. Wolves and other predatory animals were hunted, trapped, and
poisoned to near extinction. Some unregulated mining companies stripped the land in search of coal, polluted streams and rivers with
sulfur mine drainage, with only profits in mind. There are many other examples of exploitation of the environment too numerous to
enumerate.
Although we may not agree with those who promote concepts of exploitation, or with those extolling the "Animal Rights" we do support
their rights within the law to promote their positions. We support the position of stewardship. The riches of the natural world are not
ours to exploit. On the other hand, we don't believe that man can or should abstain from wisely using these natural wonders. We
support the concept of stewardship by responsible non-confrontational action. As we seek to apply this to the Whitetail herd in
Georgia, we consult with biologists. We take special precautions to avoid offending the sensibilities of those who find hunting and the
killing of animals objectionable. Top
In areas of overpopulation, deer cause an over browsing affect called a "browse line". In areas with a browse line, most plant species
below the browse line are stripped bare damaging the habitat for many species. These brows lines can be from four to six feet high.
Deer establish a territory and will not leave it.
Deer are known to starve rather than leave their domain.
Just 2 deer without predation can produce a herd of up to 35 deer in just 7 years.
Deer can live up to 12 years in the wild.
Under optimal conditions without regulating factors like predators or hunting, deer populations can double in size annually.
Two of the considerations used when establishing a deer management plan are Biological Carrying Capacity (BCC) and Cultural
Carrying Capacity (CCC).
Deer Damage and Problems
A recent survey of U.S. farm leaders revealed that as many as 56% believed they had suffered crop damage by wildlife and the
Whitetail deer was named as the primary culprit.
Pennsylvania farmers suffer crop damage of an estimated $30 million annually, Wisconsin estimates it's farmers are hit for $37
million annually.
Back in 1995, conservative estimates place deer-car collisions in the us at over 500,000 annually.Vehicle damage is in the hundreds
of millions of dollars. In Georgia alone, there are 51,000 accidents!
The annual damage in New Jersey alone is estimated to exceed $10 million dollars. These accidents resulted in thousands of
injuries and over 100 deaths.
Suburban home owners spend thousands of dollars replacing landscaping plants defoliated or damaged by deer.
In 1995, Lyme disease was considered to be the fastest growing infectious disease next to AIDS. Some scientists see a strong link
between high deer densities and Lyme disease.
In Pennsylvania, a state that tracks deer-vehicle collisions, there are over 40,000 deer-vehicle collisions annually.
Based on Pennsylvania's experience, VDGIF conservatively estimates the annual vehicle damage caused deer-vehicle collisions to
exceed 25 million dollars.
Even more important is the cost in human life. During the 1985-1994 period, 12 fatalities were reported as a result of deer-vehicle
collisions in Georgia.
Deer-Car Collisions
The burgeoning Whitetail deer population throughout the suburban areas of Georgia is resulting in an increasing number of conflicts
between deer and people. The most serious of these are collisions between automobiles and deer. These can result in extensive
property damage, bodily injury, and in some cases even death.
Health Concerns
Another area of concern involves health issues. Whitetail deer are the primary host to deer ticks, the carrier of several human
diseases. The best known of these is Lyme Disease but ticks also carry other diseases with even more grave consequences. In
addition to tick borne diseases, deer herds can become infected with other diseases that at this time are not known to effect humans
like EHD. Diseases similar to EHD are found in domestic animals like horses, cattle, and sheep. Although not firmly established,
there is some concern that inter-species transfer is possible from deer to horses. Top
Property Damage
Property damage is another result of the growing Whitetail population. Home gardens and landscaping are expensive in both financial
terms and in the homeowners time and efforts in maintenance. Even when natural foods abound in local area, deer are often attracted
to the rich succulent plants of the backyard landscape. Natural foods are limited by the natural pH and nutrients of the soil and are in
competition with neighboring plants for sunlight. In the backyard, trees, plants, and gardens are usually enhanced by things like pH
normalization, fertilizer, and pruning. In addition, the woodlot openings created by our home sites provide additional sunlight to our
domestic plantings. When natural food supplies are limited either seasonally or by over use by deer, the backyard becomes a magnet
for deer. Top
Environmental Impacts
Whitetail deer in large numbers can cause significant habitat damage even on relatively large tracks of land like some of our parks.
Deer are primarily browsers. Over browsing in an area can have a negative environmental impact. Thick and diverse near ground
cover provides the nesting sites needed by many species of birds. It also provides food for other animals. Over browsing creates an
unbalanced situation. Some browsing tolerant plant species flourish at the expense and even elimination of other less tolerant
species. Red Top Mtn State Park would be an example of this type of problem.Top
Animal Rights, Stewardship, and Exploitation
It is a simple fact of life today that people in today's society have very diverse viewpoints concerning the relationship between man,
nature, and the environment. As America has become first urbanized, then suburbanized, the percentage of Americans working on
farms has diminished greatly. Farm life allowed people to gain first hand experience with animals from many different perspectives.
The family dog was a faithful friend and companion as well as a working asset on the farm. Livestock were a precious resource. They
were managed and tended with care but their eventual slaughter provided both much needed food and income to the farm. Wildlife
was viewed as both and asset as well as a competitor. Bees pollinated the crops, worms composted and aerated the soil, deer fed
on crops and coyotes, wolves, and foxes would pray on livestock. Other wildlife species like squirrels and songbirds were viewed as
neutral.
For many years as cities and suburbs grew, peoples' close up experience with animals became more and more limited to life with the
family pet. It is no wonder that over time the view of many Americans toward animals has changed. To some, they are all warm and
furry creatures needing help and protection. Others take an even more extreme view, anthropomorphizing animals and bestowing
"rights" on them. Others, even more extreme, view these "Animal Rights" as eclipsing the rights of man.
On the other side of the coin we have exploitation of the environment. Wolves and other predatory animals were hunted, trapped, and
poisoned to near extinction. Some unregulated mining companies stripped the land in search of coal, polluted streams and rivers with
sulfur mine drainage, with only profits in mind. There are many other examples of exploitation of the environment too numerous to
enumerate.
Although we may not agree with those who promote concepts of exploitation, or with those extolling the "Animal Rights" we do support
their rights within the law to promote their positions. We support the position of stewardship. The riches of the natural world are not
ours to exploit. On the other hand, we don't believe that man can or should abstain from wisely using these natural wonders. We
support the concept of stewardship by responsible non-confrontational action. As we seek to apply this to the Whitetail herd in
Georgia, we consult with biologists. We take special precautions to avoid offending the sensibilities of those who find hunting and the
killing of animals objectionable. Top
© 2001 SWMNGA, Inc.
