Some thoughts and notes about Ohio's white-tailed deer population

My comments from old Toledo Talk threads

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September 2009 comment

I assume it means thinning the herd. The growing deer population means deer move into human-populated areas where the deer are unwelcome. Or it's the other way around. The growing human sprawl development means humans move into areas where they are unwelcome by Nature, but Nature cannot defend itself as well. Probably some combination of the two scenarios.

Maybe the numerous deer are devouring someone's crops or damaging property. If the deer are deemed a nuisance by some government agency, I believe the property owner or the town can get special permission to hunt the deer out of season and when the deer are in non-hunting areas. It's good eating for someone. Give the deer steaks, sausage, etc. to a food bank.

Don't worry. We've got plenty of deer. In central Michigan and eastern Ohio, if you have not had a deer-vehicle collision, you are in the minority. It's nearly unsafe to drive at dusk on some country roads, especially in the fall.

If you easily want to see tame deer in the wild, head out to Magee Marsh or some other local wildlife area. Sometimes you can get within a few yards of the deer. One time, a deer walked up to me, getting within a few feet from me. The one in the photo was from another close encounter at Magee Marsh. Oak Openings Metropark is the best place for me to see a large herd of deer running through the woods, but I think Sidecut Metropark is also a good place to see a lot of deer.

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November 2009 comment

Right now, I doubt a deer would jump over a person, but it would probably steamroll the person. Deer during the rutting season will run through yards and down streets within the city limits of small towns. When a buck is chasing a doe, things like obstacles and location don't matter much. It's really surprising where deer turn up now.

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November 2009 comment

"Starvation culls."

Seems like a waste of good meat though. Plus, starving the deer doesn't sound humane.

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December 2009 comment

"Why not trap the deer and then send them either to Up State Michigan or another part of Ohio?"

Because other parts of Ohio have even more deer. Maybe someone in eastern Ohio is saying send the deer to northwest Ohio.

2003 ODNR release :

Deer densities vary widely across Ohio. East-central and southeastern Ohio densities are between 25 to 35 deer per square mile. Densities are much lower in agricultural areas of central and western Ohio, about 5 to 10 deer per square mile.

I'm assuming Ottawa Hills residents won't mind paying more taxes for someone to live trap deer and transport them hundreds of miles away, assuming they can find some place to take the deer.

#nature - #hunting - #mammal - #deer