More and more Howard County residents are having close encounters with white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Some encounters are pleasant. The opportunity to observe or pursue deer is a valuable and memorable experience. These are encounters some people would like to continue to have and experience more frequently. However, for an increasing number of Howard County residents, encounters with white-tailed deer are less than pleasant. Many of these residents have voiced legitimate concern about increased agricultural crop, commercial nursery and residential landscape damage caused by deer. They have expressed fear about the connection between elevated deer populations and the occurrence of Lyme disease, the increased frequency of automobile/deer collisions, and the condition of the county's remaining wildlife habitat and natural areas.

Increasing concern about deer-related problems indicates that deer populations in some areas of the county have exceeded an optimum density called the carrying capacity. Carrying capacity can be determined by three different standards. Biological carrying capacity is the population density that cannot be supported by the available habitat. Catastrophic mortality, from such causes as starvation, stress, diseases and parasites, and reproductive failure, produce a dramatic decline in the population and poor health in the surviving individuals. Ecological carrying capacity is that deer density at which we see damage to the forest ecosystem, impacting the populations of plants and other wildlife species, forest regeneration and water quality. Cultural carrying capacity is reached when the deer population is high enough to cause widespread conflict with the nearby human population. If nothing is done to stabilize or reduce the deer population, conflicts will likely increase with both citizens and deer suffering as a result. In Howard County, the cultural and ecological carrying capacities have apparently been exceeded, but we have not arrived at the biological carrying capacity on a widespread basis.

Howard County's Comprehensive Deer Management plan addresses actions that can help reduce deer-human conflicts but cannot eliminate them. Deer are very adaptable animals and will continue to thrive in Howard County. Here are some ways to help reduce and prevent deer problems.

Damage to Agricultural Crops, Gardens and Ornamental Plantings
Damage prevention alternatives for homeowners and agriculturalists include mechanical noise producing devices, chemical repellents, and fencing. Homeowners can choose to landscape their property with plants that are not favored by deer (a list is available through the Cooperative Extension Service). Farmers experiencing crop damage are encouraged to open their land to hunting and/or obtain deer management permits to reduce the number of deer on their property. For information on establishing a hunting program on your property or obtaining deer management permits contact DNR at 301-258-7308. To report deer related problems and receive information about controlling damage call the Nuisance Animal Information Line 877-463-6497. A booklet titled Controlling Deer Damage in Maryland is available from the Howard County Cooperative Extension Service at 410-313-2707. It is also contained in the Deer Management Reference Manual available in all Howard County Public Libraries. The Reference Manual has been updated (2004) and contains several pieces of literature that can help you understand and adapt to the current deer abundance situation.

Automobile/Deer Collisions - Driving tips