White Tailed Deer Essay

The relationship between white-tailed deer and coyotes have a negative correlation across the United States. Whether or not one species’ population number has a direct effect on the other is unknown, but there is much research that may show a connection between the two. The population of white-tailed deer has increased in many areas, including Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP), Ohio (Fulton, Skerl, Shank, & Lime, 2004). In southeastern states, such as South Carolina, deer are an important food item for coyotes (Kilgo, Ray, Ruth, & Miller, 2010). Many citizens in the CVNP area believe the deer population needs to be managed with human control (Fulton et al., 2004). In order to get a grip on the issue of deer overpopulation, it is important

It is estimated that the deer population is approximately 2-4 times higher in CVNP compared to other areas (Fulton et al., 2004). Wandering deer negatively affect seedling growth and tree regeneration, and can be dangerous to humans by causing deer-vehicle accidents or spread of disease (Fulton et al., 2004). In locations such as CVNP, citizens believe something should be done to control the growing amounts of deer. During a mail-back survey, it was found that between 75-72% of citizens located at least 10 km from CVNP believe that taking no action to decrease the deer population is unacceptable (Fulton et al., 2004). Some participants in the mail-back survey that disagree with lethal management say they would have a negative opinion of CVNP and some would refuse to attend the park if they activate this lethal management program (Fulton et al., 2004). Lethal management is an option to help kill off white-tailed deer, but society should also study the idea of increasing the coyote population in hopes that it will decrease the deer population in CVNP. Perhaps citizens of this area that agree that something needs to be done about this deer overpopulation will support an increase in