Can birth control be used to lower deer populations?
Birth control is a highly desireable option among urban and suburban residents. Most residents feel that this is a safe and nonlethal deer reduction technique. It should be noted that deer capture, firearms, and projectiles are still required for use of this method. A great deal of research has been done over the last 10 years in attempts to perfect the techniques. Reduced fawning rates have been exhibited in captive/confined deer herds treated with birth control agents. The most often used methods include the use of darting equipment to deliver hormones. The hormones used are taken from the ovaries of pigs as byproducts of slaughter. These hormones block fertilization of the female egg. In no case have reproductive controls lowered any existing population of free-ranging or confined deer. Please note that controlling reproduction is not a population reduction method, at best it can only lower the fawning rates for a percentage of the deer that can be treated. Any reduction of deer num
