| The wild and elusive white-tailed deer is the largest mammal in our parks. There are herds in every park and deer can readily be seen throughout the year. Historically, these animals existed in Ohio's original landscape and lived in seclusion, hunted by a variety of natural predators. By the 1900s the white-tailed deer was almost gone from Ohio. This very adaptable species has bounced back adjusting to live with humans.
Today, deer herds are surrounded by human development and their natural predators have disappeared. The once vast area they occupied is now broken into "islands" of habitat. Deer must cross roadways and yards to find places to live and eat. Without the presence of natural predators, deer numbers increased. As natural areas and horticultural areas began to experience heavy browse by deer, it became clear that the numbers of deer must be controlled if the remaining plants and animals were to stay in balance.
Metro Parks began to address this issue in the late 1980s. Several of the once wildflower rich parks had begun to show browse lines and species declines by the over abundance of deer. As a result of increasing numbers of deer numerous rare plants began to disappear, overall community diversity was impacted and deer-car accidents increased. Sharon Woods Metro Park lost nearly 350 species of plants.
Several management measures were attempted to decrease the number of deer in the parks. Relocation, eight-foot fencing, experimental birth control, controlled hunts and sharpshooters have all been a part of the deer management strategy. Today the populations are healthier and in better balance with the ecosystem.
We must respect this large mammal for adapting so well to living in an urban environment. It's wonderful to watch a group of deer bounding away from you with their white tails flagging to other deer. It's a sure sign that we have restored the wild in the white-tailed deer and still preserve the wildness in our Metro Parks.
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