Suburban Deer Management

Deer overpopulation has become a significant problem especially in suburban areas of Maryland. With decreased predator populations there is an absence of effective population control for White-tailed Deer. With the lack of top predators such as wolves to keep down the deer populations, reduced populations of foxes to catch mice and opossums to eat ticks, and increasing suburban encroachment into previously forested areas, the tick-mice-deer-lyme disease life cycle poses an increasing threat to human health and outdoor activities. These hungry unhealthy deer damage farms and gardens and wipe out native plants destroying forest ecosystems so that birds, insects, and mammals like racoons have nowhere to raise their young. Please use the following resources to learn more about deer management, how this might affect you and your community, and take action.

Information about Deer Management

Animal Connections Deer Management Team http://acdmt.org/

Why manage deer (vehicle damage, forest preservation and biodiversity, lyme disease) http://acdmt.org/home/deer-management/
Safety of bowhunting http://acdmt.org/home/bowhunting/ Deer Hunting: An effective management tool https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/hunt_trap/deerhuntastool.aspx

City of Takoma Park webpage: takomaparkmd.gov/government/police/neighborhood-services/suburban-deer-management/

Managing White-Tailed Deer in Suburban Environments http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/suburban.pdf
Cornell studey 2014:An Integrated Approach for Managing White-Tailed Deer in Suburban Environments http://www.wildlifecontrol.info/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/IDRM-12-11-14-Final.pdf
George Timko, Deer Management Expert, MD DNR 30 minute presentation 8/23/2019 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zap1bx38GBQ&feature=youtu.be

Brochure about the threat of lyme disease and relation to invasive weeds and deer overpopulation (created by Sierra Club interns!)

UMD Extension Forest Stewardship Education Information:

Presentation powerpoints posted on https://extension.umd.edu/woodland/your-woodland/workshop-resources-library

Deer Management In-Service Workshop - April 24, 2019, College Park MD)
Suburban Deer Management Workshop - May 26, 2011

The economic, human, and ecological impacts of deer overabundance continue to rise:

Deer vehicle collisions
Residential and commercial landscaping damage
Reduction of native plants and biodiversity of trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and wildlife

Overview of Deer Impacts and Effectiveness of Lethal and Non-Lethal Management Options George Timko, MD DNR Wildlife & Heritage Service, and Jonathan Kays

Trends in deer vehicle-collisions, lyme disease, agricultural and residential landscape damage. Fencing, repellents, vegetation management, population management

Accokeek Community Program, Holly Wagner and Byron Williams, Citizens in the Community

Managing a Volunteer Operated Managed Hunt, Lessons Learned from 4 Successful Seasons
Accokeek Community Deer Management Program
Establishment and Organization of a Volunteer Managed Hunt: Lessons Learned from Four Successful Seasons

Take Action

Support Deer Management and a Suburban Archery Corridor in MD

Sierra Club member asked questions and got answers Q&A about bow hunting management in urban suburban MD

Thank you for taking our deer management survey here to let us know your opinions on the deer populations!

If you would like to join the Maryland Chapter’s Natural Places Committee Efforts please contact Marc.imlay@mdsierra.org or Lily.Fountain@mdsierra.org or outings.intern@mdsierra.org

https://www.sierraclub.org/maryland/invasive-species-corner

https://www.sierraclub.org/maryland/getting-outdoors-safely