Reply #43: Oh yeah, I can back it up [View All]

[EstimatedProphet]

http://www.uwsp.edu/stuorg/pointer/2003/10/02/deer.html
http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Anov01issue/urbandeercontrol.htm
http://fwp.state.mt.us/mtoutdoors/HTML/Articles/2004/UrbanWildlife.htm
for starters...
I am not saying that urban/suburban development isn't encroaching on deer habitat. Of course it is. My point is that, after the habitat has all been turned to suburbs, the deer still hang around and actually thrive.
Deer typically prefer "edge" habitat-where fields meet woods, or near ponds, or similar places. It's very diverse habitat, and has in many cases a lot of food and cover for them. What we are finding out now is that suburban areas make very good edge habitat too. a lot of people in the suburbs like to have land bordering woods, for example, and also have gardens filled with plants that would have been considered exotic. So, deer find all the edge they need right there, and the end result is a viable suburban deer population, and all the negative things that go with it, such as damage to people's houses, lawns, cars, etc.
There's really only 2 solutions to this: 1) no more suburban development, and 2) control the suburban deer populations. I won't argue that #1 wouldn't be nice-I'd personally like to see it, but is it really going to happen?