Date of Award

1-2006

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

College/School

College of Science and Mathematics

Department/Program

Earth and Environmental Studies

Thesis Sponsor/Dissertation Chair/Project Chair

Gregory A. Pope

Committee Member

Harbans Singh

Committee Member

Michael McCormick

Abstract

Translocation to manage overabundant wildlife populations, (in particularly Odocoileus spp.), is generally viewed as an acceptable method of wildlife removal where more aggressive methods (i.e. hunting, sharp shooting) are not considered viable options, in heavily developed urban areas and residential subdivisions.

From December 2000 to March 2003,1 conducted a large scale White-tailed Deer 0Odocoileus virginianus) translocation study on a 259 ha (640 acres) site at Duke Farms m Hillsborough, New Jersey, a location with high public visitation, over 100 employees, and a significant building infrastructure. Subsequently at the time of the study, the site was not conducive to any of the more aggressive management alternatives. I set out with the idea of ultimately determining the overall costs, effectiveness, efficacy and feasibility of this particular wildlife removal technique while performed within an enclosed (fenced-in) location, as opposed to conducting it in open non-contained area. I formulated my results by analyzing the number of deer translocated during the study period versus the overall costs per deer incurred, as well as the overall deer removal rate ( # of Deer Removed / # of Deer Before Removal x 100), calculated during the span of the project, and subsequently compared it to other significant (and comparable), translocation projects that have occurred throughout the United States which used similar methodology. Research took place over a 2 1/4 year continuous time period (December 2000 to March 2003) and resulted in 259 of the 350 deer at the research location being translocated to an offsite facility. The total cost per translocated deer, including the initial expenditures was $1385.06, and the overall Deer Removal Rate was 74.0%. It was concluded that enclosed area translocation was more cost effective compared to other similar comparable "open area" translocation studies, but was still a relatively costly and laborious methodology overall. Yet, regardless of the potential costs and labor intensity, it is likely to have definitive viable applications where lethal means are not an option (i.e. urban zones, private estates such as Duke Farms). If maintained properly and diligently, locations such as this might find enclosed area translocation the most effective, politically acceptable and logistically feasible non-lethal means of deer removal available anywhere at this point in time.

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