On my CARE-5 tour, I was deeply
engaged in the anti-deer-culling campaigns in many American states and
cities. On of them is Pepper Pike, Ohio. Pepper Pike employs a very
cruel method known as Trap-and-Bolt, using a device called the Clover
Trap, and an air gun firing a 4" bolt into the brain of the deer. The
cruelty is two-fold: 1. the need to physically subdue the deer, in which
process some deer have reportedly died of fright, and 2. that, with the
deer thrashing violently, the bolt often misses the brain and hits the
deer in the face, the nose, the ear and the eye instead. Mutli-firings
are often required.
More basically, deer culling as a means of deer population management
does not work. This is due primarily to the Compensatory Rebound Effect
(CRE), where a sudden increase in per capita food supply to a level of
abundance will max out the reproduction potential of the deer, which can
cause the deer population to rebound to the pre-cull level or even
higher within as little as one year.
An example: Take a 250 acre parcel of land with a biological carrying
capacity of 7.5 deer (meaning does, since bucks often out-migrate). In
Year 1, there were 10 does, i.e. 2.5 does above the biological carrying
capacity. Only 3 does gave birth to 1 fawn each. Total year end
population = 10 + 3 = 13. Year 2, the does were culled down to only 5,
i.e. 2.5 below the biological carrying capacity. All 5 does gave birth
to fawns, 2 with singlelets and 3 with twins, totally 8 fawns. Year end
total = 5 + 8 = again 13. This proves the Compensatory Rebound Effect (CRE).
The Compensatory Rebound Effect is usually disregarded by the city
planners, including those of Pepper Pike, which in itself is gross
intellectual neglect leading to incompetence where the issue is
concerned.
Following is an analysis of Pepper Ike, Ohio, both as proof of the
soundness of the CRE, but also proof of those deer population management
programs that disregard the CRE:
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Analysis of Pepper Pike, Ohio
Area = 7 sq. mi. Human population = 6,000
2004 deer density (pre-cull) = 31 deer per sq. mi. (according to PP)
2004 deer population (pre-cull) = 7 x 31 = 217 deer
2004 - Cull #1 proposed: target - reduce density from 31/sm to 13/sm.
It fell short, and ended with 19/sm (according to PP) meaning that about
85 deer were killed (see below)
2004 - Cull opponents said: Culling method won't work due to the
Compensatory Rebound Effect. Once you start culling, you will have to
keep on culling year after year ad infinitum.
2004 PP city's response: Once the 13 deer per square mile target has
been met, the culling program will stop.
2004 Cull #1 proceeded.
2005 deer density (post Cull #1) = 19 deer per sq. mi. (according to
PP) 2005 deer population (post Cull #1) = 7 x 19 = 133 deer Therefore,
Cull #1 killed 217 - 133 = 84 deer
2005-10-31 - PP mayor Akers sent out a public letter proposing Cull
#2: target - to reduce density from 19/sm to 13/sm, quota should be
about 45 deer.
2005 - Culling opponents asked: Once the target is met, the culling
program will end?
2005 - PP's response (not verbatim): We repeat. Once the target is
met, the culling program will end.
2005 - Culling opponents asserted: We predicted that the culling will
not end even if the 13/sm target is met, and specifically predict that
in PP there will be a Cull #3 in 2006, and a Cull #4 in 2007.
2005 - PP's response: We repeat. Once the target of about 13 deer per
square mile (10 - 15) has been met, the culling program will end.
2005 - Culling opponents re-asserted: We'll see about that.
2006 according to PP's formula, deer density (post Cull #2) should be
13 deer per sq.mi. 2006 according to PP's formula, deer population (post
Cull #2) should be 7 x 13 = 91 deer.
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2006 - Cull #3, still targeting 13/sm, did come to pass. Deer killed
(#?)
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2007 - Mayor Akers's letter proposes Cull #4, still targeting 13/sm....
2007 - Culling opponents say: Mayor Akers, WE TOLD YOU SO!
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2008-1 - Cull #4 about to proceed, Cull #5 already on the mental
horizon.
2008-01 - Culling opponents rest their case.
2008-01 - Verdict from Canada: PP's culling program is a total
failure. The proof is in the continuation of the program itself. An
alternative non-lethal plan, involving the use of immuno-contraception,
is called for.
By
Anthony Marr, founder
Heal Our Planet Earth (HOPE)
Since
