Researchers search for answers regarding deer populations

Hunting season is fast approaching, but not everyone looking for deer is trying to kill them.

John McDonald, an assistant scientist with the Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory, along with assistants Valerie Carter and Paul Matthews, have set out to study the deer and track how they use the habitat surrounding houses as opposed to undeveloped areas.

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McDonald said that as housing development spreads, it has a positive impact on deer populations and a negative impact for humans.

“There’s the obvious problem of deer and car collisions,” McDonald said, “but an overpopulation can cause a lot of the undergrowth to disappear, which can also hurt the ecosystem.”

Besides damaging the ecosystem, the deer also pose a threat to traffic safety.

John Lewis, a master sergeant with the Illinois State Police, said there is an average of about 50 car-and-deer collisions a month in a seven-county area in Southern Illinois. He said drivers need to be especially careful between September and February, the months of the deer running season.

“Something needs to be done about it,” Lewis said. “There has been a lot of property damage done; they don’t even see you.”

McDonald, who also worked in Massachusetts as a deer specialist, said as structures are built, the hunting area decreases, thus allowing more of a safe haven for deer.

“A state law requires you to be at least 300 yards from the nearest dwelling to hunt for deer,” he said. “Currently, you can’t hunt in 34 percent of Jackson County.”

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Using corn and apples for bait, the researchers lure the deer into one of 12 designated areas east of campus, and temporarily tranquilize them and attach a collar with a receiver attached. The collar is expandable and eventually falls off.

“With this receiver, we can try and get a good idea of the deer’s movements in relation to developed areas,” McDonald said.

Since the only other predators besides humans are bobcats, overpopulation can cause a major problem in the habitat, according to McDonald.

With no deer tagged, the research team has had little success, but they would like to tag at least nine before hunting season begins in November.

McDonald said the study could yield more information on how the deer’s changing habitat affects their lives.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to predict the future for the deer population,” he said.

Reporter Brad Brondsema can be reached at [email protected]