Overpopulation of Deer

Overgrazing

They have eaten most of the ground cover in the Berkeley Lake greenspace and indeed have eaten much of residential landscaping, including plants that they did not eat previously. They are destroying habitat for other creatures and creating erosion problems in the greenspace.

The problem is overpopulation. Overgrazing is a symptom, not the problem. City Council addressed the symptom by increasing the allowable backyard fence height to eight feet.

A citizen committee has been formed (without the support of City Council) to explore possible solutions.

Fearlessness and Aggression

Deer in Berkeley Lake have no predators and are no longer fearful of humans. Unfortunately, many people feed deer in violation of city and state laws. Deer have exhibited aggression towards pets and owners. Neighbors have told me they have been stalked by deer while walking a leashed dog. They have also put their noses through fencing to hiss at their dogs.

My own pomeranian was attacked by a doe several years ago. She was in my fenced back yard at the time of the attack. See photos of her injuries here. Warning: Images are disturbing.

Causes and Solutions

Humans have caused the problem through development and elimination of predators. But that is no excuse for failing to deal with the issue.

Ben McCullar from Department of Natural Resources spoke at the Pinckneyville Center meeting in April. Although he provided information about co-existing with the deer, he said culling is the only real solution. An incumbent city council member told me the word cull is never mentioned on the DNR website. I don't care what you call it (culling, thinning the herd, killing some deer), we need to take action. And, by the way, I personally spoke with Mr McCullar and was informed that DNR provides these services free of charge!

The problem is overpopulation. City Council addressed landscape destruction, which is only a symptom of the problem, by increasing the allowable backyard fence height to eight feet. This does not address the real problem: overpopulation.