ottotheboar

Here in Virginia along with squirrels deer numbers are well down this year. There is a story going around that the insurance companies are importing and releasing them to keep the deer numbers down.
Has anyone else heard this ?

sir_eccles

What are they going to release to keep the Coyote numbers down?

Michael

In the 1970s, the state of California shot about 50 deer on Angel Island in the SF bay to keep the deer population under control but a picture of the carcasses got into the newspaper and there was a public outcry. Then they had plans to introduce neutered coyotes into the park but environmentalists objected claiming that coyotes don't make clean kills so the plan was stopped. They thought of introducing mountain lions but quickly abandoned that idea since the island is a public park and would be very dangerous to the public.

They then relocated the excess deer but they all died within 3 months since they are mule deer and can't survive in the same types of environments as white tail deer. Forty years and millions of dollars later, the state still can't figure out how to control the deer population. The park only has enough vegetation to support about 100 deer so the problem continues.

I can't imagine why insurance companies would be allowed to control the deer population and especially to use coyotes to control the deer population since that is a state function.

Hotscot

I'd be surprised. I don't think insurance companies have the authority.

sir_eccles

Farmed coyotes imported into western PA - snopes.com

Pa. Wildlife Officials Quash Coyote-Deer Risk Management Rumor

Sounds like someone digging up an old story.

Also worth pointing out that adult coyotes are pretty big, I wouldn't want to hit one with my car and wouldn't be any different than hitting a deer.

lizzyq

Nicer meat from a deer.

LondonSquirrel

I have never understood why they don't use some sort of contraceptive bait to control animal numbers. I think it would be much more effective as well as more humane for rats, mice etc

Michael

Targeted contraceptive bait. Hum, interesting idea.

Once a year pills maybe.

scrubbedexpat099

Issue more hunting permits. Or is that too obvious.

On the topic why would insurance companies care?

scrubbedexpat091

I was wondering why insurance companies would care as well.


If humans stopped screwing up eco-systems and food chains, nature would keep the animal populations in check, its humans that screw everything up.

Beaverstate

Money.
Deer Crashes and Your Auto Insurance | Bankrate.com

AdobePinon

A lot easier just to charge you more for insurance.

md95065

I think the problem is that the animals don't like using the condoms ...

LondonSquirrel

I'm thinking something that would either temporarily render either males or females unable to reproduce for a specific time period, or something that would render either sex sterile (don't really need both sexes to be).

LondonSquirrel

Sorry won't let me edit my last reply even though I tried to do it right away. There's no cursor in the box.

I meant to say I'm thinking of deer pellet-type food baited with the birth control drug.