Deer Management in Middleton
Middleton's White Tail Deer Problem By: Penni Klein, Public Lands Manager

Certainly deer are an important and enjoyable part of the Pheasant Branch Conservancy and other conservancy areas throughout the City of Middleton.  Indeed, deer are beautiful wild animals which we humans seem to love to watch and feed. Deer are also an important part of an even greater plan -- an ecosystem more complex than we can ever imagine! However, as our agricultural lands disappear and our urban areas expand, the telltale signs of an overpopulated and un-balanced urban deer herd are everywhere:
   - Loss of native plant species: trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants.
   - Damage to private residential vegetation: trees, shrubs and herbaceous shrubs.
   - Increased number of car-kill deer accidents within the city limits

Maureen Rowe, DNR - Wildlife Biologist for the Dane County Area, sums it up best by stating "The deer herds within management units 76 and 76M, are severely over populated."  This includes all of Middleton.  Rowe also goes on, stating "Scientific studies document that current deer population levels threaten microhabitat, severely impacting native flora and fauna."

The average deer consumes 6 to 8 pounds of forage each day.  Approximately 1 ton per deer per year!

What can we do to manage our deer overpopulation?

RESOLUTION 2000-31
The November 2, 2000 meeting of the City of Middleton's Conservancy Lands Committee, voted and directed the Public lands Manager to submit a grant application to the Department of Natural Resources-Urban Wildlife Damage Abatement And Control Program.

The City of Middleton, Public Lands Department, received a DNR- Urban Wildlife Abatement Grate in the amount of $3,500.00.  The grant will provide assistance and funds to:
   - Monitor and survey current deer populations (i.e. aerial helicopter surveys, pellet surveys, and deer exclosures.)
   - Develop and urban wildlife population control plan, which documents current deer populations, determine future deer herd goals, and determines and adequate control method.
   - Provide on public forum designed to improve community awareness related to deer management issues and concerns.
   - Develop a public informational brochure designed to providebaseline information to area residents and encourage their volunteer involvement in the management activities as much as possible.
   - Conduct habitat modifications to impede deer population growth and promote native vegetation restorations.

In February 2001, the Public Lands Department completed an aerial helicopter survey of the Pheasant Branch Conservancy noting over 165 deer per 323 acres, or 330 per square mile which far exceeds the standard DNR recommendations of 15 deer per square mile. With these astronomical population numbers it is no wonder our native vegetation appears compromised in our conservancy areas.

Urban Deer Management in Wisconsin

It is difficult to imagine, according to the 1929 deer survey, a time when there were less than 30,000 deer in the whole state of Wisconsin!  Now as we have entered the 21st century, we believe we have a deer population of 1.7 million before the 2001 hunting season.

Over the past years, some guiding principles have developed that help the DNR work with communities to lessen the damage and nuisance caused by deer.  Listed below are some of the guidelines used when a community is thinking about lowering their deer population.
   - The community must determine how many deer the citizens are willing to tolerate.
   - Provide a Public hearing or forum, to define the largest area possible for deer       control.
   - Removing all the deer in an urban area is not an option.  Deer are part of the natural       community.
   - There is not quick fix.  There must be a long term commitment to maintain deer at a       desired level.
 Given these guidelines, what actually happens if a community decides it has too many deer and wants to reduce the population?
   - First, determine how many deer are in the community.
   - Second, request a permit from the DNR to allow removal of enough deer to bring the       population down to a goal determined by the community.
   - Third, a permit is then issued to the community to remove the deer by one of two       means, sharpshooting or live trapping with removal to a game farm.

As a Citizen, what can I do to help?

1. Never feed them!
It may seem kind, but it actually put both you and the animal in danger.  Animals that are fed lose their fear of people, may become aggressive and bite, butt, or trample human beings.  They may lose their ability to find food on their own, when the handouts stop, they starve.  Deer attracted to corn or salt licks are also at risk.  Large numbers of deer feeding in a small space increases the transmission of bovine tuberculosis and other disease.

2. Enlist the Neighbors!
Even if one neighbor decides to feed deer, the neighborhood will have a problem.

3. Plant Defensively!
The listing that follows are species reported to be deer resistant:

We Want to Hear From You!
 Please tell us about your thoughts or concerns regarding deer damage in your area.

Middleton Public Lands Department 7426 Hubbard Avenue Middleton, WI  53562 (608) 827-1044