Um...we need a deer plan!

[Anonymous]

Can we create safe havens for them or take them to forests or something? I am constantly seeing dead ones along the side of the road or confused and scared shitless deer wandering around and getting into harm's way. Yes, they are gentle and yet they cause so many highway accidents and deaths because we have screwed up their natural habitat. They are taking over. We need a place for them where they can be happy and safe. Why don't we send them to the home of that retired game show host who wrote a letter to the people of Rockville? Seriously, there needs to be a solution. I see them daily and unlike the squirrels they are clueless about how to stay safe as we build more and more houses and roads.

[Anonymous]

It's called hunting. Or bring back their natural predators.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Can we create safe havens for them or take them to forests or something? I am constantly seeing dead ones along the side of the road or confused and scared shitless deer wandering around and getting into harm's way. Yes, they are gentle and yet they cause so many highway accidents and deaths because we have screwed up their natural habitat. They are taking over. We need a place for them where they can be happy and safe. Why don't we send them to the home of that retired game show host who wrote a letter to the people of Rockville? Seriously, there needs to be a solution. I see them daily and unlike the squirrels they are clueless about how to stay safe as we build more and more houses and roads.

Why don't YOU move out of the deer's natural habitat? That would solve the problem, or don't build roads through their homes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Why don't YOU move out of the deer's natural habitat? That would solve the problem, or don't build roads through their homes?

You beat me to it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's called hunting. Or bring back their natural predators.

Totally agree. Can't wait for deer season!

[Anonymous]

I absolutely love deer but was freaked out when two ran in front of my car recently in broad daylight.
I stopped short and was lucky nobody was behind me. My kids were in the back - could have been bad. Something needs to be done. And yet...I really do love them.

[Anonymous]

Need to re introduce wolves to the area!

[Anonymous]

Yep, I'm afraid there are only two options: bring back their predators (wolves) or allow hunting. Both have risks. Both would results in major outcry from the risk-averse.

I'm afraid we just have to be super-alert when driving around the park and in rural areas, and wait for the wasting disease to kill them all off. It's sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely love deer but was freaked out when two ran in front of my car recently in broad daylight.
I stopped short and was lucky nobody was behind me. My kids were in the back - could have been bad. Something needs to be done. And yet...I really do love them.

Had a similar experience and completely agree with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Can we create safe havens for them or take them to forests or something? I am constantly seeing dead ones along the side of the road or confused and scared shitless deer wandering around and getting into harm's way. Yes, they are gentle and yet they cause so many highway accidents and deaths because we have screwed up their natural habitat. They are taking over. We need a place for them where they can be happy and safe. Why don't we send them to the home of that retired game show host who wrote a letter to the people of Rockville? Seriously, there needs to be a solution. I see them daily and unlike the squirrels they are clueless about how to stay safe as we build more and more houses and roads.

Why don't YOU move out of the deer's natural habitat? That would solve the problem, or don't build roads through their homes?

I knew a troll would come. This is a "we" problems. A colleague of mine's daughter was killed in a car accident with a deer. I see them on roadways more than I ever did before. I actually am OK with hunting IF people actually eat the deer meat and make use of as much as possible from the carcass. I also think we need some places where they can roam safely and not sure how this will ever come to be. Not sure I want foxes roaming around, but something needs to happen.

[Anonymous]

There are many places where they can roam safely. However, without natural predators their population is out of control. They compete for limited food resources and find their way to populated areas for food. Most parks do controlled hints to try to get a managable sized herd both for the health and safety of the animals and for those animals who are competing for similar food resources.

Sadly I think hunting or otherwise figuring out deer birth control are the only answers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Can we create safe havens for them or take them to forests or something? I am constantly seeing dead ones along the side of the road or confused and scared shitless deer wandering around and getting into harm's way. Yes, they are gentle and yet they cause so many highway accidents and deaths because we have screwed up their natural habitat. They are taking over. We need a place for them where they can be happy and safe. Why don't we send them to the home of that retired game show host who wrote a letter to the people of Rockville? Seriously, there needs to be a solution. I see them daily and unlike the squirrels they are clueless about how to stay safe as we build more and more houses and roads.

Why don't YOU move out of the deer's natural habitat? That would solve the problem, or don't build roads through their homes?

I knew a troll would come. This is a "we" problems. A colleague of mine's daughter was killed in a car accident with a deer. I see them on roadways more than I ever did before. I actually am OK with hunting IF people actually eat the deer meat and make use of as much as possible from the carcass. I also think we need some places where they can roam safely and not sure how this will ever come to be. Not sure I want foxes roaming around, but something needs to happen.

I'm a troll because I post my opinion? I feel that we're in their natural habitat. We aren't controlling their reproduction or population. We are in their home. Do you disagree?

Why build more roads through areas where they live? Either give them birth control, move them, or deal with them. That is not a troll comment. We could have taken care of the population by now with humane methods but as a "WE" we are not doing so.

[Anonymous]

I thought they already do deer population control through birth control and sterilization.

[Anonymous]

I am all in favor of controlled professional thinning of the herds using contracted hunters. Especially since in many jurisdictions the venison meat is provided to homeless shelters (in Fairfax County this definitely occurs). Therefore, it helps with two issues.

[Anonymous]

I'd be fine with hunting except I don't want a bunch of yahoos firing shots around my neighborhood. The big blizzard seemed to really thin out the population the following spring but it has bounced back.