Deer Vasectomies

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On Staten Island, the deer population is reportedly getting out of hand. To address this problem the powers that be have decided on deer vasectomies as the plan of action. The deer will be tranquilized, neutered, and then returned to the wild. At least as wild as it is on Staten Island anyway.
     Posted By: Alex - Fri Jun 10, 2016
     Category: Animals | Government | Really Bad Ideas





Comments
There is a big difference between neutering (castration) and vasectomies (sterilization). A neutered buck would not longer try to mate with does, so any intact, non-neutered bucks that remain would do all the mating, having little impact on the number of fawns, but making a big, negative impact on genetic diversity. A vasectomized buck will still mate with does but have no offspring, resulting in a reduction in the number of fawns born.

Or, they could import Chinese rams to mate with the does, resulting in no offspring. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C95RkfO3yM
Posted by Joshua Zev Levin, Ph.D. on 06/11/16 at 04:17 AM
Whatever you city folk do DON'T EAT THEM or use them TO FEED THE ILLEGALS.

In almost all the eastern states the deer population has to be controlled by hunting. Most farmers view them a vermin 'cause they can strip a field in a heartbeat.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 06/11/16 at 09:24 AM
My mistake Joshua, the article did not use the word neuter, I did. I am just accustomed to using that word when referring to animals. As far as culling the herd and using the meat to feed the poor and homeless, that is a very good idea. I don't know why people (other than vegans) are so against it.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 06/11/16 at 12:34 PM
Harvesting the deer is a very good idea from a food standpoint. However, since deer are a natural prey species, and evolved to cope with being hunted, I doubt it will make a significant long-term impact on their numbers, unless you keep up the hunting year upon year. Which, actually, wouldn't be a bad idea. Cheap, semi-wild venison - yummy!
Posted by Richard Bos on 06/11/16 at 05:59 PM
Rich, that's about what most of the rural areas in the states do. They keep track of the numbers, figure out how many buck & does need to go then issue 'tickets' to registered hunters. Some years, if the population is low then only bucks and a lottery is held for the tickets. In other years it's just about open season until a number is reached.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 06/11/16 at 06:45 PM
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