More Research Needed To Control Deer Populations
Tufts Expert Studying Contraceptive Drugs For Reducing Herds

No. Grafton, Mass. -- As deer populations continue to grow nationwide, many communities and scientists are increasingly searching for methods to safely control deer in suburban areas. Hunting, which has traditionally been used to regulate deer populations, is not only losing popularity, but is also prohibited in the highly populated residential areas where many deer now live.

   Despite the growing problem, a Tufts scientist told the Boston Globe that not enough research is being done on the issue.

   "Considering how serious a problem [deer] are, there is remarkably little research into controlling them in suburban areas," said Allen Rutberg, an expert at the Center for Animals and Public Policy at Tufts' Veterinary School.

   The repellents and fences commonly sold in garden shops are not particularly popular, Rutberg told the Globe. "People tend to want the problem solved for them," he added.

   But that is a complicated process.

   Over the last nine years, Rutberg has been studying the effectiveness of a contraceptive for deer -- called immunocontraception -- most recently in Newton, Mass. But the process is labor intensive.

   And Rutberg should know. Before joining the Tufts faculty, Rutberg was Senior Scientist for the Humane Society of the United States, where he led the wildlife contraceptive program for many years, specifically focusing on deer and wild horses.

   According to the Pittsburg Post-Gazette, Rutberg told community officials there that more research is needed on methods of controlling growing deer populations, including contraceptives.

   "Currently, neither we nor anybody else can manage the entire deer population of a 10 square-mile township with immunocontraception," Rutberg told the township's leaders.

Online: http://www.tufts.edu/communications/printerversion/122700SolvingDeerOverpopulation