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Results: Damn Deer

Published on 11/02/2016
By: JennElf
1624
Living
In my ecology class we've been looking at the campus forest and assessing it's health (or lack of) and what factors are contributing to it's state. Deer have impacted every landscape east of the Mississippi and are especially a major problem here in Jersey. New Jersey had a historic deer density (pre-Columbus era) of about 7-8 deer per square mile. Now it ranges depending on what part of the state you're in from 200 to 400+ and these numbers are wreaking havoc in many ways. The reason for this over abundance is because deer were a protected species starting in the 40's after being commercially hunted to near extinction. Clearly they've recovered and something needs to be done. We've talked about ways to manage deer population and commercial hunting seems the most viable in terms of effect but the least viable in terms of implementation. It always hits a wall because of people who don't believe in hunting anything for any reason. I don't like hunting but I believe that in can be acceptable depending on the circumstances.
1.
1.
Are you against hunting deer? If you have no opinion that means you are not against it so please answer no.
Yes
30%
485 votes
Kinda on the fence
22%
354 votes
No
48%
785 votes
2.
2.
We think of humans as the main destroyers of forests and while that has been a true fact of humanity for ages deer are now turning out to be just as bad. Lands and parks have been protected and cleared forests replanted. Deer have no such rules of repairing their damage. Forests are dying because there is no regeneration taking place any seedlings that emerge in springs turn into a tasty treat for these critters; deer can and will eat almost all plants leaving nothing behind in their wake. Did you know that Deer are the biggest threat to eastern forests?
We think of humans as the main destroyers of forests and while that has been a true fact of humanity for ages deer are now turning out to be just as bad. Lands and parks have been protected and cleared forests replanted. Deer have no such rules of repairing their damage. Forests are dying because there is no regeneration taking place any seedlings that emerge in springs turn into a tasty treat for these critters; deer can and will eat almost all plants leaving nothing behind in their wake. Did you know that Deer are the biggest threat to eastern forests?
Yes
15%
244 votes
No
53%
862 votes
I knew they did some damage but not this much
32%
518 votes
3.
3.
Farmers lose 10's of millions of dollars because of deer damage to crops. This hurts their lively hood and increase certain crop prices depending on what produce was hit hardest. Did you know deer were a problem for farmers?
No
32%
514 votes
No but I'm not surprised
34%
555 votes
Yes
34%
555 votes
4.
4.
The forests getting decimated have ripple effects. Bird habitat in forests have been greatly reduced and even eliminated for a few species because of the damage the deer have cumulatively inflicted over the past few decades. If deer had been kept at historic population levels the east coast would have millions more of songbirds. Did you know deer are responsible for a huge decrease in the variety and number of birds?
The forests getting decimated have ripple effects. Bird habitat in forests have been greatly reduced and even eliminated for a few species because of the damage the deer have cumulatively inflicted over the past few decades. If deer had been kept at historic population levels the east coast would have millions more of songbirds. Did you know deer are responsible for a huge decrease in the variety and number of birds?
Yes
13%
214 votes
No
87%
1410 votes
5.
5.
Birds and other woodland creatures aren't the only ones feeling the impact. Excluding accidents caused by swerving to avoid hitting the deer, there are OVER one million car deer collision accidents each year each year which cause about 200 deaths and damage totaling $1.1 billion in 2000 to $4 billion in 2012. Did you know deer caused so many accidents and costed so much?
Birds and other woodland creatures aren't the only ones feeling the impact. Excluding accidents caused by swerving to avoid hitting the deer, there are OVER one million car deer collision accidents each year each year which cause about 200 deaths and damage totaling $1.1 billion in 2000 to $4 billion in 2012. Did you know deer caused so many accidents and costed so much?
Yes I knew the accident figures
19%
302 votes
Yes I knew the damage cost figures
9%
151 votes
I knew both
19%
305 votes
No
53%
866 votes
6.
6.
There are less destructive but still highly annoying things deer do, which ones have you experienced?
Eat your garden or other outside plants
25%
407 votes
Leave droppings on your property
12%
202 votes
Spread ticks with lyme disease
18%
300 votes
Caused you to stop short in your vehicle
32%
524 votes
Have spooked you going outside
7%
121 votes
Not Applicable
47%
770 votes
7.
7.
If you were against hunting deer do you feel any different knowing that deer are taking the lives directly and indirectly of other animals and people?
Yes
8%
130 votes
No
26%
416 votes
Maybe we could find an alternative
24%
394 votes
I wasn't against deer hunting to start with
42%
684 votes
8.
8.
Methods of deer control such as trying to introduce contraceptives or sterilization have been implemented in some places but are costly and limited. Inoculating a female with contraceptive hormones only lasts the season and there are too many deer to do this with. Hunting is also restricted as an option due to it's limited time frame and bag number. Commercial hunting is really the only way to stop the deer population from growing and even start shrinking it. Because deer are so abundant this would be a cheap meat at the market and could potentially help people economically. Would you be against legalizing commercial deer hunting?
Methods of deer control such as trying to introduce contraceptives or sterilization have been implemented in some places but are costly and limited. Inoculating a female with contraceptive hormones only lasts the season and there are too many deer to do this with. Hunting is also restricted as an option due to it's limited time frame and bag number. Commercial hunting is really the only way to stop the deer population from growing and even start shrinking it. Because deer are so abundant this would be a cheap meat at the market and could potentially help people economically. Would you be against legalizing commercial deer hunting?
Yes
25%
405 votes
No
41%
662 votes
Undecided
34%
557 votes
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