I agree that realistically, social and political deer carrying capacities 
have to be considered.  And I'm sure they will be.  I just wish that biological 
carrying capacities were the primary consideration across the country, 
including Iowa.  

It is certainly true that people in Wisconsin have a greater tolerance for 
high deer numbers (and the revenue they generate).  So do people in 
Pennsylvania.  Unfortunately, someone forgot to tell the native landscapes of those states 
to develop greater deer tolerance as well.  

In one recent article, the deer situation in Pennsylvania was described as a 
slow-motion ecological catastrophe.  A journal article (in SCIENCE, I think) 
reported that the native landscapes of Wisconsin, particularly in northern 
Wisconsin, are also in deep trouble because of too many deer.  

Deer research that actually made the general press indicated that unless deer 
numbers are significantly reduced, deer will totally eliminate wild ginseng fr
om much of the eastern United States over the next several decades. Ginseng 
was studied because it has economic value.  The response from the DNR 
spokesperson in the state where the ginseng research was done (not Iowa) was basically 
that deer and ginseng have been living together in that state for thousands of 
years, so don't worry, be happy.  Of course he didn't mention that there were 
also large predators and Native Americans controlling that deer population 
until recently.  It's attitudes (or ignorance?) like his that concern me most.

I am grateful that Iowans are concerned about high deer numbers.  We should 
be.  When Iowa botanists and birders and other nature people get together, I 
hear plenty of concern.  We all know that deer are beautiful and belong in the 
landscape -- it's deer overpopulation that worries us.  But ecological damage 
is seldom even mentioned in Iowa deer articles. 

Cindy  



Cindy Hildebrand
[log in to unmask]
57439 250th St.
Ames, IA  50010
515-232-3807

"We passed a high Sand Bank which appeared to be Slideing in at times. Little 
above a Bank of Sand Stone which was high & many Birds nests in the holes.  
We proceded on to a large handsome prarie on the North Side where we camped."  
(John Ordway, Lewis and Clark Expedition)      


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