High white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) densities in urban areas typically result in human-wildlife conflicts (e.g., deervehicle collisions, transmission of disease to humans, and vegetation damage). Controlling deer densities via fertility control generally is more acceptable than lethal removal in many urban areas and can reduce conflicts by stabilizing deer numbers. Contraceptive vaccines that use PZP (porcine zona pellucida) proteins as antigens have been used for many years and generally are regarded as safe and effective. Side effects of immunocontraception may be repeated estruses, an extension of the breeding season, and increased movements and ranges of immunized deer. We evaluated the effects of SpayVace, a long-lasting, singledose PZP vaccine on ranges and movements of female white-tailed deer at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center near Houston, Texas, USA. We captured, treated, and radiomarked 38 female deer with SpayVac (treatment) and injected 11 deer with a placebo (control). Fawning rates for treated and control deer were 0% and 78%, respectively. We observed no difference in the movements and ranges of SpayVac-versus placebo-treated deer: annual ranges (95% probability area) between treated (x ¼ 82 6 7 ha) and control (x ¼ 77 6 14 ha) deer, core areas (50% probability area) between treated (x ¼ 11 6 1 ha) and control (x ¼ 11 6 3 ha) deer, and daily movements treated (x ¼ 430 6 1.5 m) and control (x ¼ 403 6 3.6 m) deer. However, we did not evaluate the potential effect of immunized females on ranges and movements of male white-tailed deer. Increased ranges and movements may be more pronounced for males than for females. (WILDLIFE SOCIETY BULLETIN 34(5):
ABSTRACT:Overabundant white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations have been reported in many urban and suburban communities across the United States. Large populations of deer can potentially increase the risk of human-wildlife conflicts, such as deer-vehicle collisions, transmission of disease to humans, and vegetation damage. In 2003, efforts to control white-tailed deer numbers were initiated at the National Aeronautical and Space Agency's (NASA) Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas, using the longlasting, single-dose contraceptive SpayVacH. Our objectives were to evaluate the effectiveness of SpayVacH for reducing white-tailed deer fertility and determine the partial cost for treatment. Between 2003 and 2004, we monitored 45 adult female deer (34 treated with SpayVacH, 11 controls treated with a placebo). Fawning rate over 2 yr for deer treated with SpayVacH .30 days prior to the rut was 0% (n531), whereas the fawning rate for control deer was 78% (n511). Inoculation 1 mo prior to the breeding season was sufficient time to achieve fertility control. We conclude that SpayVacH can effectively reduce the fertility of urban white-tailed deer.
Increasing white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) numbers in urban environments is a management problem for both natural resource agencies and urban residents because of economic (e.g., deer‐vehicle collisions) and ecological (e.g., ornamental and native vegetation damage) issues associated with deer “overabundance.” Reducing deer numbers using nonlethal control procedures often requires the safe (i.e., low mortality) capture of urban white‐tailed deer. We describe the use of a portable drive‐net to capture urban white‐tailed deer. We attached nylon drive‐nets of various lengths, heights, and mesh sizes to an anchor (e.g., fencepost, T‐post, tree) and placed them neatly on the ground. Persons on foot would drive deer toward the drive‐net while one person would pull the net vertically to coincide with deer arrival. From June 1998‐October 2003, we captured 76 white‐tailed deer (25 M, 51 F) in Texas and Florida using the portable drivenet. No deer mortalities were recorded, and ≤10 deer suffered small cuts and scrapes. The major advantages of our drive‐net (i.e., simplicity, portability, selectivity, low cost, quietness, and non‐invasiveness) make the technique useful for capturing urban white‐tailed deer.
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