Cooperative Extension: Be safe, avoid feeding deer
Deer thrive in Carson City. In fact, a permanent resident herd breeds here each year, never migrating anywhere else. Deer can be seen throughout town from the foothills to the Capitol walking down streets, jumping fences and living in people’s yards.
These urban deer have become accustomed to people and dogs and have little fear. Some people in the city think there is a deer problem when their landscapes are damaged repeatedly, their fruit eaten and plants destroyed. Others think the deer are a wonderful part of nature and love seeing them daily. They may even feed them.
People don’t realize that feeding the deer is against the law. According to wildlife officials, “a fed deer is a dead deer;” since they are often hit by cars. Many people, especially children, romanticize them as Bambi not realizing that deer can be more dangerous than bison when cornered or frightened, particularly if there are fawns around (May and June) or during rutting season (November). Children have even been seen feeding a buck out of their hands. This is dangerous, because they could easily be gored if the deer were to be startled by something. Dogs too are in jeopardy. Human-deer interactions can cause problems.
In Helena, Montana, the deer interfered with the free movement of the public, causing traffic problems. A boy was attacked while delivering papers. Small dogs were stomped by does defending fawns or by bucks during the rut. Deer can spread diseases such as Lyme disease. And, deer attract predators such as coyotes and mountain lions.
A community committee is being formed to examine the deer issue. Are the numbers of deer in town increasing? Are the health and/or safety risks to people and the urban deer significant? Do people feel deer are a problem or a benefit? Are deer management actions necessary, or not?
Has Carson City reached its social carrying capacity for deer, or not? Who should be called to handle complaints? City departments, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and Nevada Department of Wildlife are looking for volunteers to participate on the committee to examine these and other questions.
If you would like to volunteer, please contact me at 887-2252 or skellyj@unce.unr.edu. We plan to do a community-wide survey, hold public meetings and determine if a deer management plan is needed or even possible.
In the meantime, I have a new publication out on deer resistant plants. Contact me for a copy or go to www.unce.unr.edu.
— JoAnne Skelly is an Associate Professor, Extension Educator for Carson City, Storey County University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. Call 775-887-2252.
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