In the United States we are facing
more urban deer issues than ever before
because of an imbalance
of natural systems in our cities.
As deer populations grow
wildlife habitat within our communities
quickly becomes degraded.
When people see sick or emaciated deer
they start feeding them
thinking it's a solution
but that often makes the situation worse.
Over abundant deer cause problems
like vehicle collisions, landscape damage,
disease outbreaks, and impact native
habitat that affect other wildlife too.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
can provide advice and permits,
but communities will decide what actions
to take and are responsible
for any associated costs.
It will take months, maybe even years,
to get stakeholders to agree
on goals and solutions,
because with hundreds in a community
there are hundreds of opinions.
To avoid conflict,
communication and transparency is key.
Remember to be realistic
about what to expect,
and that ultimately reducing
deer herds requires combining
multiple strategies.
Feeding bans are the single
most effective strategy
at reducing deer conflicts.
They are written and enforced
at the municipal level.
They prevent feeding, which deters
concentrating deer, and helps reduce
vehicle collisions and disease transmission.
Texas offers two types
of permits to trap deer.
The permittee, such as
the city, county,
or property owners association
is responsible for
hiring a trapper and conducting
all trapping operations.
The trap transport and transplant permit,
also known as a “Triple T,”
authorizes deer to be moved
to other properties with sufficient habitat.
This is a challenge because even
rural areas have too many deer,
so finding a release site can be difficult.
Before deer can be moved
with a Triple T permit,
some deer must be tested
for chronic wasting disease,
which requires a few deer to be killed
unless samples can be collected
from nearby roadkill.
With a trap, transport, and process
permit, or “TTP,” deer are trapped
and euthanized, and the meat
is donated to local
food banks.
Each of these trapping options
can cost $300 to $800 per deer.
Both permit applications must be signed
by a city, county,
or property owners association representative.
Homeowners associations are not eligible
to apply for these permits by themselves.
Hunting has been used to manage
populations for decades, and in some
urban situations, is still a viable option.
Urban archery deer hunts
can be conducted or cities
can hire a contractor to manage
a hunting or sharp shooting program.
This strategy can cost
$200 to $400 per deer.
The average fence doesn't keep
deer out of an area
since deer can jump a six-foot fence.
However, homeowners
can put up eight foot fencing
or add an attractive two-foot barrier
to an existing six-foot fence
if allowed by their HOA.
In addition,
fencing around a subdivision
may be a costly solution,
but it is extremely effective
when used with other management options.
Sterilization or contraception
for deer is not permissible in Texas
by state law.
There is no legally approved drug
in Texas for fertility control of deer,
therefore this is not an option.
Chemical repellents don't work
and can often harm
wildlife and the environment.
They are not recommended.
Human activities
have led to current deer situations.
We clear valuable habitat,
replace it with sterile
turf grass,
no longer use hunting to control
wildlife populations,
are intolerant of
important predators,
and then feed wildlife
thinking it's a solution.
Controlling deer herds
is complicated and a long-term process.
No one tactic works for every community,
and multiple simultaneous
strategies are recommended.
It may take a few years
to see results
and management actions must continue
to keep herds reduced in size.
Leaders must
engage the community,
be transparent, and communicate
openly about decisions.
However, more importantly,
the community has to be willing
to be part of the solution.