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TextFairfax County Releases Deer Management Survey Results
In June 2010, a Deer Management Survey was sent to the public in an
effort to obtain information about residents’ experiences with, and
perception of, white-tailed deer in Fairfax County. A collaboration with
the Fairfax County Wildlife Biologist, other County officials, and
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries staff, the survey was
developed over the course of several months. In addition to assessing the
public’s thoughts on white-tailed deer in the County, the survey also
served as an outreach tool designed to gauge residents’ opinion of the
Fairfax County Deer Management Program and current use of available deer
population control tools.
The Fairfax County Wildlife Biologist’s office contacted by phone, email
or mail, over 1,900 homeowners associations, community associations,
citizens and civic associations in Fairfax County. Additionally,
information and an invitation to take the survey was provided through the
FCPD Public Information Office and the Office of Public Affairs. As a
result of this extensive outreach a robust sample of residents was
obtained, as 6,376 Fairfax County residents elected to complete the
survey.
Some points of interest from the survey:
•66.5 percent of respondents would prefer the deer population
decrease.
•45.9 percent of respondents are very concerned they will be in a
deer-vehicle collision within 12 months.
•50.4 percent of respondents are very concerned they will get Lyme
disease within 12 months. 62.7 percent of respondents believe deer are
directly related to the risk of transmitting Lyme disease.
•62.7 percent of respondents support public managed hunts (deer
population control).
•66.4 percent of respondents support the Archery Program (deer
population control).
•57.0 percent of respondents support police sharpshooting (deer
population control).
•60.3 percent of respondents support legal hunting on private property
(archery or shotgun).
•59.5 percent of respondents oppose no deer population control efforts.
Website Survey 