[BCNnet] better habitat coming in DuPage

[Sheryl DeVore]

Robbie and all,

The deer program to which Robbie is referring is at the City of Highland
Park. However, from what I know of the program, and the reason it was begun,
I must disagree that it is a preferred and less costly method than marksman
shooting. (That issue is writen about extensively by Pioneer Press where I
work and probalby delved into more than other locasl or city newspaper.)  I
still believe (perhaps I'm the only one out there anymore) that marksman
shooting to cull the deer is still the best way to handle ecosystem
management today and the most humane way as well.

As an aside, they are neutering deer in Highland Park is not so much because
they care about the native ecosystems, but because folks don't like the deer
munching on their non-native tulips and such.

Don't you think those deer are  tramautized when trapped and neutered?  And,
what will be the repercussions of all this down the road?  If males mate
with neutered deer, and find that young are not being produced, will that
bring in a new herd of "fertile" deer into the "unwanted territory"?  The
trap and neuter program is just another attempt to assuage animal rights
activists without really solving the problem of overdevelopment, lost
habitat and misused land.

OK, I'm ready for the deluge of disagreements now. Bring 'em on.

Best wishes to all,
Sheryl De Vore
Mundelein, Il
sheryl.devore@comcast.net






----- Original Message -----
From: "Robbie Hunsinger" <redstart1@earthlink.net>
To: <bobolnk@ix.netcom.com>; "BCN" <bcnnet@ece.iit.edu>
Sent: Friday, November 07, 2003 12:22 PM
Subject: Re: [BCNnet] better habitat coming in DuPage


> Dear BCN,
> A little off topic I know but, I am aware that there was a trial program
in
> alternative deer control - does anyone know about how this went?
>
> I believe there was a test program for implanting a birth control
medication
> in female deer ( similar in delivery to the under the skin birth control
> medication that came out several years ago for women).
>
> I think they tried the deer birth control project maybe on the North Shore
> somewhere -  Heller FP maybe?
>
> It seems like it wouldn't be any more trouble initially, and it would save
> lots of time, work hours, and $ in future years (not to mention saving 150
> deer from getting shot each year).  Shooting female deer with a
tranquilizer
> instead of a bullet and implanting the medicine seems highly preferable to
> the current approach.
>
> If anyone has any contacts or info on the deer birth control program or
> other alternatives I would be very interested.
>
> Thanks,
> Robbie
>
> > --------------------
> > DuPage forests OK more deer culling
> > --------------------
> >
> > By Lynn Van Matre
> > Tribune staff reporter
> >
> > November 5, 2003
> >
> > A controversial deer culling program at Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve,
near
> > Darien,
> > is likely to be stepped up under a measure approved Tuesday by the
DuPage
> > County
> > Forest Preserve District Commission.
> >
> > By a 5-2 vote, commissioners affirmed an ordinance that directs forest
> > preserve
> > staff to control white-tailed deer populations in district preserves
"based
> > on evidence of damage, population trends, current scientific knowledge
and
> > best
> > management practices as recognized by wildlife professionals."
> >
> > Passage of the ordinance, originally adopted in 1992 but more or less
> > overridden
> > in 1997 when commissioners voted to limit deer kills at Waterfall Glen
to 50
> > animals
> > a year, effectively lifts cull limits. Earlier this year, commissioners
> > approved
> > culling an additional 50 white-tails at Waterfall Glen in response to
> > burgeoning
> > deer populations.
> >
> > Current staff estimates call for 170 deer to be culled at Waterfall Glen
and
> > nearby
> > Wood Ridge Preserve during the 2003-04 season, which typically begins in
> > December
> > and ends in March. Cull figures for other preserves have not been made
final.
> >
> > In a presentation last week, district animal ecologist Scott Meister
told
> > commissioners
> > that escalating numbers of deer that are overgrazing were having a
negative
> > impact
> > on plant communities at the preserve.
> >
> > Though culls take place throughout the district, in recent years
Waterfall
> > Glen
> > has attracted the attention of animal activists who argue that too many
deer
> > are
> > being taken from the preserve, one of the district's largest.
> >
> > In a discussion preceding the vote, Commissioner Joseph Cantore
described
> > himself
> > as "on the fence" and said he would like to see quantitative data on
ecosystem
> > problems caused by deer.
> >
> > Commissioners Marsha Murphy and Wally Brown, both of whom voted against
the
> > measure,
> > also said they would like to see more figures on deer-related damage.
But
> > Brent
> > Manning, district executive director, said staff findings could be
easily
> > quantified
> > and that the deer management program was "true ecological science."
> >
> > Deer are killed at night by sharpshooters from the U.S. Department of
> > Agriculture's
> > Wildlife Services Division. Carcasses are processed into ground venison
and
> > provided
> > to area food banks and pantries.
> >
> > Representatives of two conservation groups spoke Tuesday in support of
the
> > program.
> >
> > Brook McDonald, chief executive officer of the Naperville-based
Conservation
> > Foundation,
> > said he has observed a decrease in plant diversity in Waterfall Glen as
deer
> > herds
> > have increased.
> >
> > "I don't know what the right number is, but [culling] 50 deer a year
isn't
> > working," he said.
> >
> > Robert E. Fisher, president of the Chicago-area Bird Conservation
Network,
> > noted
> > that deer management was vital to maintain biodiversity.
> >
> > "We don't want to see our preserves become biological junkyards,
populated
> > only by overcrowded, starving deer and invasive plants," Fisher said.
> >
> > Speaking out against the ordinance was environmental activist Linda
Painter of
> > unincorporated
> > Hinsdale, who said Waterfall Glen had been "hit hardest" by culls and
> > urged commissioners to vote no on the resolution.
> >
> >
> > Copyright (c) 2003, Chicago Tribune
> >
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