Whitetail Deer Population and Suburban Encroachment

Discussion in 'Environment & Conservation' started by camp_steveo, Oct 5, 2017.

  1. camp_steveo

    camp_steveo Well-Known Member

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    When the phrase suburban encroachment is used, barrier islands rarely come to mind. In the case of Skidaway Island, GA, a barrier island off the coast of southern Georgia near the city of Savannah, suburban encroachment has resulted in significant negative health impacts on the whitetail deer population.


    Skidaway Island (SI) is about 18 square miles and has a population of about 8,500 residents, or roughly 472 people per mi2. SI is one of the more affluent neighborhoods in the US with a median household income over $111,000 (SI Real Estate 2017) and homes valued between $200, 000 and $2 million, all set amongst 6 beautiful golf courses (Landings 2017) as well as the 588-acre Skidaway Island State Park (SISP 2017).


    That said, there is a problem on SI that has persisted over the decades. The population of whitetail deer (deer) on SI is suffering. SI was developed in the late 1960’s and 70’s with a plan to “protect as many trees as possible and protect the natural marsh and stream edges of the island” (Foster 2017). However, the population of deer must have been overlooked. According to Deffendall et al (2011), the deer populations on the barrier islands along the coast of Georgia “have appeared to be in declining health for the past 10 years”. Compared to average deer in other regions of North America, which commonly weigh 150 and 200 pounds for females and males respectively (Saunders 1988 ), deer on SI are significantly smaller at an average weight of 80 and 112 pounds respectively for females and males (Deffendall 2011). This has been attributed to over-population, the root of which lies in habitat destruction for housing development.


    With an actual deer population of 0.2-0.3 / hectare as of 1996, the current deer population on SI is about 30 times the carrying capacity of 0.008 / hectare. Historically, sustainable deer populations on SI of about 4-5 / hectare were managed by predators. Now, with the deer population much greater than the island’s carrying capacity, deer on SI are “visibly diseased, malnourished, and susceptible to parasites” (Deffendall 2011). From a utilitarian perspective, a harm versus pleasure analysis is required. Is the harm being inflicted upon the deer population offset by the development of a luxurious housing development surrounded by magnificent golf courses?


    As far as professional practice goes, development of The Landings was obviously completed within the law. In fact, as previously noted, the development was constructed with preservation of the natural environment in mind. Furthermore, with conservation in mind, this development substantially raised the industry standard for housing developments at the time. However, the law of unintended consequences comes into effect when we examine the effect the development has had on the deer population of SI. Now the question is how to repair the harm to the deer herd being caused by habitat destruction, and is it feasible to do so.


    From a speciesist perspective, reintroduction of large predators in a suburban housing development is not reasonable. Also, the risks associated with reducing the deer population down to carrying capacity by hunting, whether with firearms or archery methods, far outweigh the benefit of herd management.


    The only reasonable way to reduce the deer herd on SI is to develop a program of trapping and relocating deer, possibly by tranquilizers or large mammal traps. However, this comes with its own set of ethical dilemmas, such as how will the deer react to being trapped and transported, as well as where a suitable relocation site that would allow the addition of deer to its own carrying capacity is located. What would the financial costs of such a program be in terms of labor, supply and transportation, and would that cost be offset by the benefit to the herd and the development? Additionally, what would the net cost-benefit be in terms of global warming potential required in transporting possibly hundreds of deer far away to wilderness locations?


    A possible alternate solution to the declining health of the SI deer herd is implementation of a feeding program. This would include a program of monitoring the herd for disease and implementing veterinary practices when necessary. Without actual numbers to go by, it is difficult to complete a comparison of these proposals, but it is safe to assume that a feeding and health maintenance program would cost far less than a trapping and relocation program. Furthermore, the benefit of implementing this type of herd maintenance program are justified by utilitarianism. The harm the development caused the deer herd must be offset by pleasure. It is not feasible to reduce or relocate to herd, thus caring for the herd in place is the only reasonable option.

    camp_steveo


    References:


    Deffendall, R., Stone, A., Weimer, J., & Belin, C. W. (2011). WHITETAIL DEER CARRYING CAPACITY AT A GEORGIA BARRIER ISLAND. Georgia Journal of Science, 69(4), 145-150.




    Foster B. (October 2017). History of Landings Development. Retrieved from: http://www.skidawayaudubon.org/our-island/history-of-landings-development/




    Saunders, D. A. (1988 ) Adirondack Mammals. State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry. 216pp. Retrieved from: http://www.esf.edu/aec/adks/mammals/wtd.htm




    Skidaway Island Real Estate, Demographics & Schools in Georgia 31411 (October 2017). Retrieved from: http://www.skidawayisland-realestate.com/neighborhoods/




    Skidaway Island State Park (October 2017). SISP. Retrieved from: http://gastateparks.org/SkidawayIsland/




    The Landings: FAQ (October 2017). Retrieved from: http://thelandings.com/frequent-questions/
     
  2. Otern

    Otern Active Member

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    Uhm, what risks associated with hunting outweighs the benefits?
     
  3. Margot2

    Margot2 Banned

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    Shooting in residential areas is high risk.
     
  4. Otern

    Otern Active Member

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    But the hunters are able to shoot the deer outside the residential areas. For example in the woods, or in fields.

    And if bows are used, the risk is almost non-existent, even in residential areas.
     
  5. Margot2

    Margot2 Banned

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    Maybe.. I have never been there so I don't know.
     
  6. camp_steveo

    camp_steveo Well-Known Member

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    The island is less than 18 square miles, only 16 of which is land. Roughly 8500 residents. About 475 people every sq mile.

    Where could you hunt without hitting a house?

    Besides that, it is a rich neighborhood. They are not going to allow hunters to chase deer around their neighborhood.
     
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  7. Deckel

    Deckel Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Doesn't sound like there would be much chase involved, but bow hunting could work. That said, they could also try a combination of sterilization or relocation. I think the horses on barrier islands tend to be on the small side as well.
     
  8. camp_steveo

    camp_steveo Well-Known Member

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    I didn't think of sterilization. Oh well....next time.

    This is for environmental ethics. It's supposed to be utilitarian.
     
  9. Deckel

    Deckel Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    It wouldn't be a problem on an island, but deer sterilization projects have shown some unintended consequences. Sterilized doe that don't get knocked up during normal rut will continue to go into heat when they normally aren't in heat which continues to lure in more bucks to an area throughout the season. You end up with fewer babies but just as many deer.
     
    Last edited: Oct 5, 2017
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  10. camp_steveo

    camp_steveo Well-Known Member

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    Interesting. BTW, thanks for putting pink floyd in your signature. I freaking love them.
     
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  11. sawyer

    sawyer Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    One word answer for this problem. Wolves!
     
  12. camp_steveo

    camp_steveo Well-Known Member

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    Oh, trust me, I know the benefit of wolf reintroduction very well. In fact, I will be posting another essay later. However, that won't happen on Skidaway Island. It is an upscale housing development.
     
  13. sawyer

    sawyer Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Wolves was tongue in cheek political commentary. All these urban nature lovers wouldn't know real nature if it ripped their throat out.
     
  14. camp_steveo

    camp_steveo Well-Known Member

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    OK, my sarcasm detector is malfunctioning..LOL
     
  15. perdidochas

    perdidochas Well-Known Member

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    Not with bows. Bowhunters have to be within 100 feet (and usually closer) in order to shoot a deer. The risk of bowhunters taking out suburban deer is almost zero. Regardless, it's a much lower risk than the chance that a deer will take out a car in process of becoming roadkill.
     
  16. perdidochas

    perdidochas Well-Known Member

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    For an environmental guy you don't know much about hunting (and neither did the authors of that study). If the hunting was limited to bowhunters in treestands/tripod stands, the primary risk would be bowhunters falling out of the stands and hurting themselves. Bowhunting for deer in that situation would have all shots being shot in a downward direction, and bowhunters don't shoot deer more than 30 yards away. Risk is minimal, and bowhunting is fairly unobtrusive.

    http://www.atlantamagazine.com/culture/bow-hunting-in-the-suburbs1/
     
  17. Margot2

    Margot2 Banned

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    I never said anything about using bows..
     
  18. perdidochas

    perdidochas Well-Known Member

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    You said shooting. People shoot bows, just like they shoot guns.
     
  19. camp_steveo

    camp_steveo Well-Known Member

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    I am the author.
     
  20. perdidochas

    perdidochas Well-Known Member

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    Then you need to research some more. Bowhunting is the ideal solution.
     
  21. camp_steveo

    camp_steveo Well-Known Member

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    It is a high-end residential development on an island. There will be no hunting.
     
  22. Chester_Murphy

    Chester_Murphy Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Whitetail deer do not tolerate capture and removal well. Obviously, the best method is not possible. Declaring the island some sort of sanctuary would have been best. No humans should be there.

    It could then have had heard management using archers hunting them in limited numbers, depending on population surveys and state regulations. I fear they are a lost cause.

    Get proactive with the rest of the state and use hunters and animal lovers to keep areas off-limits to human encroachment. Animal lovers who are intelligent will be able to understand the differences between culling a herd and allowing them to die from starvation, which is natural, yet not very sensible.

    Well, those are my guesses about what to do. Good luck. I would much rather it was a nature preserve that allowed limited hunting, trapping and fishing, rather than a "private" getaway. With that many people there, it's surely no longer anywhere near private.
     
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  23. camp_steveo

    camp_steveo Well-Known Member

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    The OP was an assignment for an environmental ethics class I am taking. I thought it would be interesting to share. I honestly think a feeding program in addition to sterilization would be the best route.
     
  24. Chester_Murphy

    Chester_Murphy Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Again, they don't tolerate being handled. I disagree with this and would rather see the herd culled. It's sad that they are now the living dead. They will be no more, forever.
     
  25. perdidochas

    perdidochas Well-Known Member

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    Rich people aren't stupid. You should be able to persuade them as to the safety of bowhunting. It's certainly a lot less intrusive than trapping and tranquilizing. The idea of capturing them and moving them is just insane.

    Feeding them is the last thing you need to be doing. I hope your professor tears the paper to pieces, as it's frankly, a pretty stupid idea. I say that as an educated biologist.
     
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2017

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