Contraception to Control Deer Numbers

Promising research on the use of chemosterilants and immunocontraception to reduce or eliminate reproduction is underway. Specificity, efficacy, and delivery of contraceptive agents, however, continue to be problems. The use of contraception for herd control will be best suited to urban parks, refuges, and other discrete areas. Deer repellentsich only treat the symptoms of the problem, will not control the increase in population size.

It is unlikely that contraception can or will be applied in rural and agricultural areas because of the flow of animals in these large areas. However, these areas also received a high value of economic damage caused by deer depredation of crops and ornamental plants.