Coexisting with Wildlife

Deer populations have grown from around half a million in the early 1900’s to approximately 25 – 30 million today. This followed stricter controls over hunting as deer populations plummeted, and the depletion of populations of their natural predators. Predator decline can be attributed to habitat loss and human exploitation, among other things.

Large numbers of deer in one area can lead to crop and tree damage, with some trees dying as a result of males rubbing their antlers on trunks. Homegrown and commercial crops alike might be eaten by deer.

There are a significant number of road traffic accidents that result from deer collisions, a 2022 study estimated at 2.1 million a year in the United States. While often causing deaths of the deer themselves, around 440 people die each year in vehicle collisions with deer and economic damage is estimated at around $10billion. Collisions with deer are often as a result of roads increasingly cutting through deer habitat.

Always watch for wildlife, especially at dawn, dusk, and the first few hours of darkness

Always drive at speeds that allow you to stop safely and quickly when driving through deer habitat.

If you see one deer cross a road, expect others.

At night, watch for reflection from headlights in the eyes of deer at the roadside. If a deer “freezes” in your headlights, try turning your lights off and then back on.

Install perimeter fencing to protect land and crops from deer. Fencing should be at least 8 feet (preferably 10 feet) high and set at least 1 foot below ground. Openings should be no more than 4 inches wide regardless of the fencing material.

Individual trees and bushes and groundcover can be successfully protected with stiff, plastic netting. The netting is simply unrolled over groundcover or draped over a bush or tree. Some mesh netting is virtually invisible — especially from a distance — and can be rolled up when not needed and reused for several years. Netting is most effective when used for short periods during critical times; it reduces rather than eliminates browsing.

A white-tailed deer can run up to 30 mph and jump up to 12 feet in height from a running start.

White-tailed deer have an incredibly fast response time when startled – between 0.05 and 0.075 seconds. In comparison, the current “world’s fastest man”, Noah Lyles, has a 0.14 reaction time. Current fastest woman, Sha’Carri Richardson, has a 0.156 fastest reaction time.

The “deer in the headlights” phenomenon, when deer suddenly freeze in bright light, happens because their eyes are well adjusted to navigate the world in the dark. When light is shining in their faces, it takes time for them to adjust. They are momentarily “blinded” and stand still as a result.

Moose are the largest deer in the world and can reach up to 8ft 6inches in height. The smallest deer in the world is the tiny Pudu, who stand up to 17 inches tall.