| Deer
live in just about every area of the County. Although it is not
possible to know exactly how many deer live within the County's
boundaries, population studies are conducted on an ongoing basis.
These studies indicate that as many as 400 deer per square mile
can be found in western parts of the County and that as many as
100 deer per square mile can be found within the County's urban
sections. Science tells us that ideal deer densities are 15-20
deer per square mile of suitable habitat. Unfortunately, many
of the areas in which large deer herds are found contain low levels
of suitable habitat due to the large number of deer and deer overbrowsing.
Stream valleys and natural wooded areas of the County that have
little undergrowth and relatively few native, hardwood seedlings
are likely populated by a large number of deer.
|
|
| Deer
pose a significant safety hazard for drivers in many areas of
the County. In fact, the incidents of deer/vehicle collisions
in the County are higher than collisions resulting from alcohol.
Although the County does not have records of all deer/vehicle
collisions, approximately 1,060 deer died in 1999. This figure
represents only a portion of the number of white-tailed deer estimated
to have been injured as a result of collisions and is a decrease
of 6% from the previous year.
Vehicle damage, personal injury,
and death have resulted from these collisions. Preliminary survey
data from areas of the County where deer/vehicle collisions are
high indicate that as many as 60% of households have experienced
hitting a deer in a vehicle. Most collisions occur in the fall
when breeding season causes deer to be more active. In order to
avoid hitting a deer, drivers are encouraged to watch for deer
especially at night and in the early morning hours.
|
|
| A healthy
female deer may produce two fawns per year. In a habitat where
there are no natural predators, a white-tailed deer population
can double in two years. An overabundance of deer is demonstrated
by:
- Increasing incidents of injury and death
to citizens and deer as a result of deer/vehicle collisions
- An over-consumption and loss of natural
food supply
- Damage to domestic and native vegetation
on public and private lands
- Declining health in the deer population
The Virginia
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has estimated that Fairfax
County has anywhere between 15 and 419 deer per square mile. Fairfax
County’s Integrated Deer Management Plan indicates that a healthy,
viable deer population within Fairfax County has been determined
to be comparable to pre-settlement conditions when there were
8-15 deer per square mile.
|
|
| White-tailed
deer feed primarily on leaves, buds, twigs and nuts. They also
enjoy ornamental plants in residential communities such as hostas,
daylilies and azaleas. An average deer eats between 5-8 pounds
of plants a day.
|
|
| A
browse line is a sign that there is an overpopulation of deer.
Trees and shrubs look like they have been trimmed or clipped of
all their leaves often up to a height of five feet. There is also
very little vegetation on the ground. When no new growth is permitted,
young trees are not produced and the habitat for nesting forest
birds and other wildlife is destroyed.
|
|
|
- While some plants may be less enjoyable
to deer, the food palette of urban deer is evolving and expanding.
Also, damage will vary depending upon availability of other
food choices.
Consult local nurseries regarding plant varieties not favored
by deer. Some of these include:
- Common Boxwoods
- Colorado Blue Spruce
- Red Osier Dogwoods
- Scots Pine
- Common lilac
- Ornamental Grasses
- Tarragon and wormwood
- Virginia Bluebells
- Forget-me-nots
- Carnations
- Daffodils
- Lilly of the Valley
- Install fences. A resource for information
on fencing options can be found at: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/wldlf2/c728.pdf.
- Some residents have found it helpful to
hang wrapped bar soap in the affected area. The brand of soap
does not appear to make a difference. Hotel style bars work
as well as full sized bars of soap.
- Keep dogs present in the area.
- Contact local nurseries for information
on deer repellent products currently coming on the market.
Note: While human hair may have been an effective deterrent
in the past, may residents have found this technique is no
longer effective. Urban deer have become comfortable co-existing
with humans. Wild animals become acclimated to deterrents.
A varied program with several components will be more effective
than a single preventive method.
|
|
|
- The response of the deer herd would be
an increase in the birth rate. Therefore, by feeding deer,
you are contributing to the current problem.
- Deer become reliant when fed. Therefore,
if you begin to feed them, you should continue. The average
deer consumes five pounds of food per day.
- With group feeding comes the potential
threat of the transfer of disease.
|
|
|
- If the deer is on the roadway, right-of-way
(15 feet from the edge of the pavement), or sidewalk, contact
Virginia Department of Transportation at (703) 383-8368.
- If the deer is on Fairfax County parkland,
contact Fairfax County Park Authority, Park Operations Division,
at (703) 324-8591.
- If the deer is on private property, the
property owner is responsible.
Please
note: If an adult deer is injured to the point of being approachable,
it cannot be rehabilitated. Contact Fairfax County Police Department
non-emergency number at (703) 691-2131.
|
|
| You
are not required to stop if you have an accident with a deer unless
it involves another vehicle, pedestrians or personal property
other than your vehicle. However, if the deer is alive and in
the roadway, please call the Police non-emergency phone number
to report it (703-691-2131). If after a deer related accident
there is damage to your car, contact the Police non-emergency
number to report it and your automobile insurance carrier.
|
|
| Fairfax
County Health Departments reports an increasing incidence of Lyme
disease. However, it is estimated that only 1% of deer ticks
are infected. If you have additional questions, you may contact
the Health Department at (703) 246-2433.
|
|
| Immunocontraception
as a method of birth control is being used to control deer population
among confined herds on an experimental basis. This method consists
of injecting female deer with a protein or hormone released through
darts or biobullets. To be effective, two injections must be administered
during the first breeding season followed by a booster every year.
The County is not using this method at the present time for four
main reasons:
- To date, there is no known technique to
locate, approach and dart a majority of the female deer in
a free ranging herd. Each deer would also have to be tagged
for identification purposes to avoid accidental multiple doses.
Darting of deer would need to take place on an annual basis
through the County.
- The County’s use of this experimental method
requires partnering with a university or other research organization
to test this method and no partner has been identified at
this time.
- The effectiveness of this method is currently
limited to confined herds.
- There are no State policies or regulations
that would allow the County to use this method non-experimentally.
|
|
| Relocating
deer is not considered a viable option for the following reasons:
- The State will not issue permits for relocating
deer.
- The mortality rate, during the capture
as well as after the capture, is significant.
- The cost (tens of thousands of dollars)
of relocating deer is prohibitive.
- Most of the eastern United States
is experiencing problems related to high deer populations.
Therefore, there is no area to which deer can be transported.
|
|
| Roadside
reflectors are an experimental technique being used to keep deer
off of roadways. Although it is not yet known how effective they
are, they are designed to alarm deer in the vicinity of a roadway
by creating a barrier when light from headlights bounce off them,
keeping deer off the roads. Roadside reflectors have been installed
as part of a pilot program along Telegraph Road in Fairfax County.
Their effective value remains inconclusive at this time.
|
|
| Restoration
of large predators is not a viable option for deer herd control
in an area with the level of urbanization found in Fairfax County.
Large predators, such as wolves
and mountain lions, need large expanses of undeveloped natural
habitat. This is one commodity no longer found in Northern Virginia.
If public support existed for a plan such as this, it is very
unlikely that a large predator would survive the urban hazards
or choose to remain in Fairfax County.
Although we are an urban County,
bears wander into Fairfax County each year and bobcats still exist
in some areas. Coyotes are believed to be present in the County
as well and will likely become more common in the future. In the
majority of areas where both deer and coyotes exist, coyotes do
not demonstrate an ability to limit the growth of the deer herd.
|
|
| A
hunting registration for firearms use can only be approved in
those areas of Fairfax County designated by the Board of Supervisors.
A minimum land parcel of twenty acres is required. The 20 acres
need not be under single ownership, but must form a single tract.
Hunting on posted property requires written permission of the
property owner; hunting on nonposted property requires verbal
permission of the property owner. Contact the Department of Animal
Control at (703) 830-3310 for details.
There is no minimum acreage requirement
for bow hunting. However, archers must have the permission of
the property owner.
|
|
| There
are archery groups in Fairfax County that may provide assistance.
Consult the web for various sites listing bow-hunting organizations
in Virginia. For information regarding Deer Kill Permits, contact
Game & Inland Fisheries.
|
