Overabundant deer populations pose serious issues for many homeowners, agricultural producers, woodland owners, as well as the public at large. Safety issues such as Lyme disease and deer-vehicle collisions have impacted most people to the point that a survey found that 1 in 6 citizens know someone who has had a deer-vehicle collision. Many agricultural producers find that deer damage their crops to the point that it is not economical to grow the crop in some cases. Many homeowners have had thousands of dollars of damage to landscapes and deer have reduced the biodiversity of our woodlands due to their selective browsing of vegetation. Finding ways to manage deer so they are in balance with the environment is essential.
What can be done? This webinar will look realistically at lethal and non- lethal management options available to individuals and communities such as vegetation management, fencing, repellents and scare techniques, as well as population management using hunting. Many communities have worked together to educate citizens, stakeholders, and government officials to build consensus and develop strategies to manage overabundant deer populations using non-lethal techniques as well as managed hunts, sharpshooters, and more widespread use of legal hunting. After many decades of dealing with deer problems in Maryland this webinar will look at what works, what doesn’t, and the types of strategies are needed to implement effective community deer management in a developing landscape.
The speakers for the webinar will be Jonathan Kays, Extension Natural Resources Specialist and George Timko, Deer Biologist with the MD DNR Wildlife Division. Much of the information covered is found in the extension publication, Managing Deer Damage in Maryland (EB354C).
More information on managing deer can be found at:
Caring for Deer and Forests: A Resource Center for Eastern North America
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