Controlling Deer Overpopulation through Increased Hunting
Controlling Deer Overpopulation through Increased Hunting
“Long Island comprises about 1,200 acres and is home to more that 500 families. During the 1960s, deer on the island were kept in check through restricted hunting. But in the 1970s, this limited population control was ended when residents made hunting illegal on Long Island. By 1983, overpopulation had created a stunted sickly herd of deer—a serious problem for the Fish and Game Department. Since most residents were still opposed to killing deer, the department was forced to use supposedly more humane methods. However, years later, reality had set in for most of the island’s residents, as the results of mismanagement were starkly evident. The deer were in a pathetic condition. Some literally staggered or were to weak to hold up their heads while walking, and the ribs, spines and pelvic bones of many deer were clearly visible” (Shedd and Monahan 6).
The detrimental effects of deer overpopulation can be witnessed in any scenario similar to this account of Long Island’s deer control problems. Since the humanity of hunting is often questioned, many alternative methods of population control have been developed and executed. These methods, however, have proven unsuccessful in the effort to diminish deer overpopulation.
Due to the excessive amount of evidence demonstrating the problems of overpopulation and the failure of hunting alternatives, it can be concluded that hunting is both a viable and humane method to control the negative effects of deer overpopulation. In order to effectively assess this issue, it is necessary to examine the harmful effects produced by overpopulation, the outcomes of failed alternatives to hunting, and the benefits of controlling deer population that only hunting can provide.
Showing the growth of the deer population Stephen Budiansky, of U.S. News & World Report, states that, “From a mere 500,000 at the turn of the century, the deer population now stands at 20 million and growing” (85). Surely, this huge boom in the population of this animal raises some question as to how many are too many. Land that was once quite capable of handling its capacity of deer is now, unable to support the numbers of deer living there with remaining food supplies. Humans must intervene in order to bring deer down to acceptable levels. In 1996 the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s official stance was a goal of,...