Politics & Government

Township Deer Culling Program Expanded for 2010

Thirteen days of a controlled hunt will start in mid-November.

Fast fact: Did you know that there are 58 deer per square mile in Lower Merion Township?

According to an average of three roving surveys conducted in 2008 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services, deer density estimates for the township are more than four times the recommended amount. Wildlife Services suggests that a rate of 10 deer per square mile is ideal for the "minimization of deer-human conflicts in suburban habitats," according to a Wildlife Services report addressed to the township from February 2009.

To lessen the dangers of deer-vehicle collisions, spread of Lyme disease and destruction of natural habitats – as well as perfectly landscaped ones – Lower Merion Township is expanding its deer culling program for 2010 to include five more days of targeted hunts than in 2009, according to a report by Superintendent of Lower Merion Police Michael McGrath at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 15.

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Police received an average of 72 reports of deer-vehicle collisions between 2005 and 2008, according to township reports. There were an average of 40 reported cases of Lyme disease – spread by deer ticks – in the same time span, and another 39 cases were reported in 2009, according to McGrath.

The 2009 deer control program in Lower Merion resulted in 119 deer harvested, all does. After a review of the impacts of the program in March, the program was authorized to continue in 2010. This year, a controlled hunt will span 13 days beginning in mid-November, and hunters will be permitted to take bucks as well as does.

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McGrath said the township hopes to kill a minimum of 150 deer in 2010.

The reason for the hunt is to protect native species of plants endangered by the large number of deer in the township, as well as minimize potential hazards caused by deer to humans.

"Overabundant deer have devastated the forest understory through browsing, which has resulted in a park-like appearance in many areas of mature forest in Lower Merion Township where little natural seedling regeneration exists within the reach of deer," the Wildlife Services report said. "The limited forage remaining in natural habitats has caused deer to rely on additional sources of sustenance available in residential landscaping, thus causing deer-human conflicts."


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