PRESS RELEASE
April 27, 2019
Urban Deer Fertility Control Workshop to Focus on Non-lethal Deer Management Methods
Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control to sponsor Workshop in Tarrytown, NY on May 2
Media, PA – As human populations expand, conflicts between humans and wildlife are rapidly increasing. In urban areas, conflicts with white-tailed deer are extremely common. However, in densely populated communities lethal methods may not be logistically feasible or socially acceptable methods of managing conflicts. In these situations, community leaders and wildlife managers need non-lethal alternatives to stabilize and reduce urban deer populations over time.
On Wednesday, May 2nd nearly a dozen scientists from across the country involved in urban deer population management will gather in Tarrytown, NY to share their expertise during the Urban Deer Fertility Control Workshop. This workshop, hosted by the Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control (BIWFC), is the first of its kind dedicated solely to the issue of urban deer fertility control planning, research and regulations. Nearly 60 participants are expected to attend.
Stephanie Boyles Griffin, BIWFC Science and Policy Director, stated, “The workshop is designed to provide community leaders and residents with the information they need to develop and implement effective, non-lethal and sustainable urban deer management plans and programs in their own communities.”
John Griffin, Director of Urban Wildlife Programs of The Humane Society of the United States, will open the workshop with his presentation “Planning for Conflict” during a session on Urban Deer Management Planning. Subsequent sessions will cover Current Trends in Urban Deer Fertility Control Management and Research, Product Development, Case Studies in Urban Deer Fertility Control, and Tools and Methods. The final session of the day will include a demonstration of PZP vaccine, identification/tracking methods, and darting systems.
In addition, presenters will include: Dr. Allen Rutberg, Director, Center for Animals and Public Policy, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University; Dr. Anthony DeNicola, President of White Buffalo, Inc.; Dr. Jeffrey Newman, DVM, Caring Hands Animal Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia; Laurie Briggs, co-founder and Director of CliftonDeer.org ; Dr. Harm HogenEsch, Associate Dean for Research, Professor of Immunopathology, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, and others. (See attached agenda for complete list of presenters.)
The Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control, located in Media, PA, aims to advance the use of effective, humane and sustainable fertility control methods to manage wildlife populations worldwide. The Institute also serves as the world’s premier clearing house and scientific resource center of wildlife fertility control. For more information visit wildlifefertilitycontrol.org .
# # #
CONTACT: Rose Lombardo, rlombardo@botstiber.org