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Thrudheim

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
http://www.northjersey.com/news/environment/65721007.html

UPDATE: On Sept. 29, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved a contraceptive vaccine for use on deer. The vaccine, known as GonaCon, was developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is a non-lethal alternative to culling and hunting deer to control population growth.

New Jersey plans to allow the vaccine to be used beginning in January. Permits will be available through the state Division of Fish and Wildlife.

HISTORY: Deer sightings were rare 60 years ago, the population devastated by hunting and the destruction of habitat by development. But the herd was restored through wildlife management — and now deer seem to be everywhere. They've browsed their way from the state's forests, down through its parks and into suburban back yards. Along the way, they've eaten through a lot of the state's vegetation, destroying plants and trees that other animals and insects rely upon. Near places such as Garret Mountain Reservation in Passaic County, deer herds regularly drift across busy streets and into back yards in search of food. Hunting is impractical in dense suburban areas, and safety laws ban discharge of firearms within 450 feet of a building.

WHAT'S NEXT: Female deer — does — must be captured by nets or snare traps, then sedated and vaccinated. The vaccine blocks release of sex hormones in the doe, leaving her infertile. Research has shown that a single dose of GonaCon can be effective for up to four years. A dose is expected to cost under $10. But the main cost will be in the trapping, which could run several hundred dollars per animal. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has tested GonaCon and says it poses no danger to humans should they eat a deer that has been vaccinated.
 
A dose is expected to cost under $10. But the main cost will be in the trapping, which could run several hundred dollars per animal.
I have no doubt that all of those who want to save Bambi from both her self and those mean nasty hunters will be lining up to volunteer their time to administer this contraceptive in every place that deer live.
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
It will be interesting to see who will be applying for the permit to use it and where, and even more interesting as you noted to see the final cost.

I guarantee you this will be touted as the "end to sport hunting" yet the FAQ sheet itself states that it is not designed to replace hunting or other sound wildlife management practices.
 
Research has shown that a single dose of GonaCon can be effective for up to four years.
What would be the percentage of effectiveness over 4 years? From previous studies the effectiveness for the first year is around 80%(Don't quote me) and each year following, the percentage of effectiveness drops significanlty each year. I'm predicting by the 3rd year it is basically uneffective........ Just my opinion[confusedagain]
 
It will cost to much money and will not yield the results certain people are looking for. Hunting is the only science based and proven effective tool for deer population management.
 
All this does is add the EPA approval to use it on deer.
I wonder what side effects it may cause.........I wonder if the people administering it to the deer have to read all the side effects out loud just before vaccinating......just so the deer knows[hihi]
 
I would have to agree that the cost associated with administering this "solution" will be way more than $10 a deer.
Much like a hospital charges $25 for a single dose of aspirin, the overhead in trapping, sedating and vaccinating will more likely be in the $ hundreds.
I guess that whoever will be pushing for this should have to provide a "proof of concept" prior to any taxpayers monies even being considered, which will surely fail.

When will people learn not to fool with mother nature?
 
Personally, I'd rather be killed than sterilized.
By the anti-hunters thinking... isn't sterilizing deer cruler? How many of these anti's would like to be captured and sterilized to control thier population? Isn't that infringing on the deer's freedoms. I'd rather be a free animal to do what i want and then taken out then a doe on birth control still getting banged away at by every buck in town.
 
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