Deer Overpopulation and Its Effect

on the Ecosystem
Max Carey

(Cope, 21)

Table of Contents
Introduction 3

A Blessing and a Curse -

How Deer Affect Us and Vice-Versa 3

Why Hunting Deer is OK When Managed 4

What We Can Do To Help 6

● How this Solves the Problem 6

● Next Steps 6

● References 7
IntroductionSummary
Deer have always been abundant in North America, and more so in the last 30 years with the
“liberalization of either-sex seasons” (NCWRC, 5). This allowed for hunters in certain areas to
harvest deer of either sex to deal with overpopulation. North Carolina alone houses a staggering
1.25 million deer (vs 30 million in the totality of the United States) according to the NC
Department of Wildlife. Mecklenburg County, home to the largest city in North Carolina, houses
between 8 and 24 thousand deer.

But why are there so many deer in the state in the first place? According to the Mecklenburg
County article on deer population, “hunting is effectively prohibited by the Charlotte City
Firearms Ordinance”, disallowing hunting in largely-deer-populated areas. Human/deer
interaction also plays a big part in the immense population, as people may feed or shelter deer
from the urban environment. Though these human foundations may seem helpful to the growing
deer population, they cause many issues for deer in the long run and can even be detrimental to
their health.

Hunting and wildlife regulations have been the most popular solution for years, but maintaining
regulations are crucial for keeping the balance between human and deer intact. With the impact
that deer have on the environment, both positive and negative, controlling overpopulation and
regulating their ecosystem within humane bounds is of the upmost importance.
A Blessing and a Curse - How Deer Affect Us and Vice-
Versa
Deer are what is known as a Keystone Species, meaning that their actions and lifestyle change
the way the environment they live in thrives (Vanorio, 4). Their herbivorous nature changes the
leafy landscape around them and promotes new plant growth. While their existence alone seems
positive for a natural environment, in an unnatural urban environment they can spell trouble. If
deer continue to thrive in an environment, eventually they will spread outwards and invade
humanmade settlements.
Below is a graphic from StateFarm’s 2018 deer-vehicle collision study. The states are
highlighted in shades of gray, the darker shades representing the higher likelihood of someone
getting into a motor vehicle accident with a deer. North Carolina ranks in the top 20 of the 50
states. (Harper, Palmer, 2018). Because of the increased spread of deer in the state, the animals
look to thrive in other areas with more food, leading them to crossroadscross roads and highways
in search of greener areas.
(Figure 1. Deer Collision Chance by State, provided by StateFarm Insurance. The darker states
have shown a higher chance for drivers to hit a deer, with North Carolina ranking in the top 20
states with accidents.)

While deer come off as docile in nature, their spread can have massive impacts on the
environment around them and the increasing urbanization of humans.

Why Hunting Deer is OK When Managed

Deer thrive now more than ever in the state due to the lack of predators in rural areas, according
to an article written by Mosquito Squad of Frankling and Framingham. Deer’s natural predators,
namely wolves and cougars, were hunted and their numbers reduced, leaving deer to prosper. To
thrive, however, deer must eat and spread (as most other organisms) leading to the destruction of
crops and farmland. To combat this, deer hunting has specific laws created to combat the rapid
growth of deer without putting them in danger of extinction in a certain area. An example of such
laws, shown in the North Carolina Hunting Regulations document, states that hunting for each
region in the country is to be held between certain dates. Most of these dates range in the
Autumn season, as deer tend to be very active during this time to prepare for mating season.

Hunting in moderation helps combat the conflicts between humans and wildlife, and helps the
wildlife the deer usually feed on to grow. When controlled, it helps keep an otherwise unnatural
environment a little more manageable. Since humans are now the most plentiful predator of deer
in the wild, it is left to up to manage the ever-growing population without getting out of control.
Greg Wagner of Nebraskaland states that the “North American Wildlife Conservation Model is
the only one of its kind in the world...in the 1800’s” (Wagner 12). The limits set by this model
were put in place to regulate wild habitats, as they could easily be destroyed if multiple people
were out hunting the same game. Overhunting of deer could lead to a loss of balance of another
species. The increase in hunting regulations over the last twenty years though have proven useful
for deer and the environment, as shown by figure 2 below. the graph below from
deerfriendly.com.

Figure 2. Estimated U.S.

Deer Harvest between 2000
and 2017. The estimated
amount of deer killed and
harvested has steadily
decreased since the regulation
of hunting has increased
(Deerfriendly, 1).
 (From deerfriendly.com, graph shows a steady decline in
the amount of deer harvested between 2000 and 2017..)

What We Can Do To Help

State legislation has already put a lot in place to help with the management and treatment of deer
in certain areas. If you see a deer in the wild or near your home, it’s best not to interact with it.
An article by Scott Shalaway mentions that it can be very tempting to feed deer, especially in
harsh conditions like freezing temperatures. This is discouraged, as a deer’s diet changes over
different seasons. They adapt to new foods as temperatures change throughout the year
depending on what kinds of food are available to them. Shalaway states “when [deer are] offered
a sudden supply of corn, for example, the digestive system doesn’t have time to adjust to a high
carbohydrate diet. The result can be acute acidosis (production of an excess of amino acids)
followed by death withtin 72 hours” (Shalaway 6). While information such as this is easy to
understand and can be passed along, there are a lot of vital pieces of information to remember in
the heat of the moment.

How this Solves the Problem

Because of the crucial impact deer have on the environment, it is best to let nature take its course,
so to speak. The general public can be more of a danger to deer than natural occurances. Humans
have a large impact on the environment as well, as we can affect natural growth, flora and fauna
alike. Removing ourselves from nature’s cycle allows the afformentioned regulations to work.
Deer reproduce, hunter’s keep this reproductive cycle in control, and both sides live on. Though
the effects of staying away from natural processes may not be instantly appearant, years of
research has shown these effects to be positive. The figures above are proof of this and more can
be found in the resources provided below. With people’s help (or lack of help thereof), we can
ensure that deer thrive better in the long run than housing or interacting with them in a short
period of time.

Next Steps

Below are some resources that can help to understand the natural processes of deer and how we
can help them without direct interaction. Deer are resilient, and can adapt to lifestyle changes.
Though they may look distressed or scared, most of the time it is best to leave them be to avoid
the risk of chase and self-injury.

Resources

● White-tailed Deer Overview | North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

● White-tailed Deer and their Importance to the Environment | Foxrun Environmental
Education Center
● Overhunting Causes and Effects | Kingston Arms
● Deer Hunting Regulations | eRegulations
● Deer Hunting and Management | Maryland Department of Natural ResourcesDeer
Hunting and Management | Maryland Department of Natural Resrouces

Conclusion
While deer may seem and friendly, like any other animal they have a their own lifestyle
and traits that disregard ecosystems for their own survival. While the goal of any animal is to
overall reproduce and survive, the large spread of deer into human-made territories has become a
problem. Hunting and wildlife regulations help maintain this issue, but it is also important that
hunting stays regulated and humane as to not torture the creatures. Deer are creatures that impact
the environment both positively and negatively, which can be managed by controlling
overpopulation and regulating their ecosystem within humane bounds. It is important that, while
keeping our own needs in check, that we also take care as to think of the creatures’ ecosystem as
a whole when managing the problems that arise from their behaviors.

References
 Cope, Brian, et al. “N.C.'s 2018-19 Deer Harvest down 9 Percent.” Carolina Sportsman, 6
May 2020, www.carolinasportsman.com/hunting/deer-hunting/n-c-s-2018-19-
deer-harvest-down-9-percent/.

“Deer.” Native Animal Rescue, 10 May 2021, www.nativeanimalrescue.org/found-an-

animal/deer/.

“Deer Hunting Seasons - North Carolina Hunting.” ERegulations,

www.eregulations.com/northcarolina/hunting/deer-hunting-seasons.

“Deer Hunting: An Effective Management Tool.” Department of Natural Resources,

dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/hunt_trap/deerhuntastool.aspx.

Lanza. “Overhunting: Causes and Effects on the Environment.” Kingston Arms, 3 Sept.
2020, www.kingston-arms.co.uk/overhunting-causes-and-effects-on-the-
environment/.

“Mecklenburg County Deer Population.” Mecknc.gov,

www.mecknc.gov/ParkandRec/Archived_Pages/Deer.aspx.

Shalaway, Scott. “Wildlife / Biologists Ask: Please Don't Feed the Deer.” Post Gazette,
18 Nov. 2012, www.post-gazette.com/hunting-fishing/2012/11/18/Wildlife-
Biologists-ask-Please-don-t-feed-the-deer/stories/201211180214.

“The Decline of Deer Populations.” Deer Friendly, www.deerfriendly.com/decline-of-

deer-populations.

Vanorio, Ame. “Everything You Want To Know About White-Tailed Deer.” Fox Run
Environmental Education Center, Fox Run Environmental Education Center, 5
Oct. 2020, www.foxrunenvironmentaleducationcenter.org/new-
blog/2019/8/12/everything-you-want-to-know-about-white-tailed-deer.

“White-Tailed Deer.” North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission,

www.ncwildlife.org/learning/species/mammals/whitetail-deer#6328482-
overview.

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