Post by cambygsp on Jul 29, 2005 6:51:37 GMT -5
www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-deer28.html
Center hunts for solution to too many deer
July 28, 2005
BY GARY WISBY Environment Reporter
The North Park Village Nature Center is looking at ways to reduce its overpopulation of deer, including sterilization and sharpshooters.
Deer numbers have exploded, from two or three in 1995 to 22 today, officials said Wednesday. A public meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. today at the center, Pulaski and Peterson.
Deer are stripping vegetation from 46 acres of prairie, woodland, savanna and wetland, said restoration ecologist Bob Porter. Wildflowers like red trillium, Joe pyeweed and cow parsnip have nearly disappeared. Young trees die from being girdled by the antlers of bucks marking their territory.
Experts say 15 to 20 deer per square mile is healthy. By that guideline, "we should have one deer," Porter said. Does can become pregnant at 6 months of age. "By age 2, they're as likely, or even more likely, to have two or three [babies] as one," he said.
Hunting of deer is banned in Chicago and suburbs; their lone predator is the automobile.
Fermilab, near Batavia, resorted to sharpshooters in 1999, said Rod Walton, an ecologist there who will speak at tonight's meeting. About 700 deer were upsetting the balance of nature on 1,000 acres of restored prairie at the research facility. More than 400 were culled the first year, and between 20 and 79 have been shot every year since to keep the herd down to 100 or so.
Relocated deer usually die. Sterilization costs upward of $3,000 per animal, and fixed females frequently wander off and are replaced by fertile ones, Walton said. Shooting a deer costs about $1,000, he said.
Center hunts for solution to too many deer
July 28, 2005
BY GARY WISBY Environment Reporter
The North Park Village Nature Center is looking at ways to reduce its overpopulation of deer, including sterilization and sharpshooters.
Deer numbers have exploded, from two or three in 1995 to 22 today, officials said Wednesday. A public meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. today at the center, Pulaski and Peterson.
Deer are stripping vegetation from 46 acres of prairie, woodland, savanna and wetland, said restoration ecologist Bob Porter. Wildflowers like red trillium, Joe pyeweed and cow parsnip have nearly disappeared. Young trees die from being girdled by the antlers of bucks marking their territory.
Experts say 15 to 20 deer per square mile is healthy. By that guideline, "we should have one deer," Porter said. Does can become pregnant at 6 months of age. "By age 2, they're as likely, or even more likely, to have two or three [babies] as one," he said.
Hunting of deer is banned in Chicago and suburbs; their lone predator is the automobile.
Fermilab, near Batavia, resorted to sharpshooters in 1999, said Rod Walton, an ecologist there who will speak at tonight's meeting. About 700 deer were upsetting the balance of nature on 1,000 acres of restored prairie at the research facility. More than 400 were culled the first year, and between 20 and 79 have been shot every year since to keep the herd down to 100 or so.
Relocated deer usually die. Sterilization costs upward of $3,000 per animal, and fixed females frequently wander off and are replaced by fertile ones, Walton said. Shooting a deer costs about $1,000, he said.
