Politics & Government

Most Fairfax County Residents Support Deer Management Meaures

County remains one of top 10 sites for deer-vs.-car collisions.

Fairfax County residents support the county's efforts to conrol the deer population, says a recent survey.

More than 6,300 residents took part in the three-month-long survey that sought to determine the public's experiences with, and perceptions of, deer management and population control efforts.

Highlights of the Fairfax County survey findings include:

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  • 66.5 percent of respondents would prefer the deer population decrease.
  • 45.9 percent of respondents are very concerned they will be in a deer-vehicle collision within 12 months.
  • 50.4 percent are very concerned they will contract Lyme disease within 12 months. (62.7 percent believe deer are directly related to the risk of transmitting the disease)
  • 62.7 percent support public managed deer hunts
  • 66.4 percent support the Archery Program to help manage the deer population
  • 64.2 percent are not at all familiar with the current Fairfax County deer management program.

Recent county deer population control initatives include an archery program in county parks. Reston Association also recently approved a homeowner's request to conduct a hunt on his own property.

For more information and to learn more about on deer management in Fairfax County, and to view survey results, click here.

Find out what's happening in Restonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Also, Virginia was ranked among the top 10 states in the nation for deer/vehicle collisions in 2009. The vast majority of these collisions occur during the deer breeding season between October and early January.

Motorists should pay close attention and remain alert at all times, especially at dawn and dusk when deer are active and are likely to be seen quickly entering roadways in herds. Police are posting a mobile sign board on roads where deer/vehicle collisions have been reported in recent weeks.

 


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