Community Corner

Beachwood's Deer Population: Why So Large?

Animal control officer Steve Suder answers our deer questions

Last week,

We saw last week of two deer wandering through front yards in Beachwood — and that’s not an unusual sight.

And we can’t forget the man who last summer after he said a deer chased and trapped him there.

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So why so many deer in the city?

Beachwood’s animal control officer Steve Suder said that, actually, it makes perfect sense.

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“Everyone thinks that you tear down the woods and they have nowhere to go,” he said. But, in fact, by developing this land, we have taken away their natuaral predators and — with our waste, bird feeders, shrubs and manicured lawns — given them a year-round source of food.

“You’ve maintained a stronger, healthier herd,” said Suder.

He said when deer populations were first tracked in this area in the 1920s and 1930s, does were having one fawn. Now, a doe has triplets, and all three survive.

“Unfortunately, and it’s kind of sad, but cars are a deer’s only predator anymore,” said Suder.

Suder gave tips on how to handle living with wild neighbors.

First, don’t feed them. He said that twice: do not feed them.

Deer who are fed by humans lose their fear of humans and can become dangerous. If or Suder become aware of a deer that is being hand-fed or who has become comfortable with humans, the Division of Wildlife is required to step in and euthanize the animal.

Deers have plenty of food in our neighborhoods, he said, and no predators to control the population.

He also said that fawns are rarely in danger. He gets many calls from residents who are concerned that a fawn is alone and that it could have lost its mother, but he said that fawns are left alone intentionally.

Fawns have very little scent, so their natural predators — coyotes — actually have an easier time finding them when their mothers are nearby, giving off scent. And coyotes will rarely attack a doe. So the does leave the fawns alone, except to feed them twice a day.

Lastly, he said that deer are rarely a threat: if you leave them a lone, they will leave you alone. The exception to the rule is during mating season — October and November — when males become very aggressive. He called this “stupid season” — males will jump through glass windows because they see their reflection.

Have you had a close encounter with a deer? Tell us in the comments, and add your photos to the gallery!


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