Deer population demographic impacts of intensive surgical sterilization treatments
This webinar, which was originally presented on Tuesday, November 17, 2020, features Dr. Anthony DeNicola, President of White Buffalo, Inc., presenting data on his six surgical sterilization sites with open populations (not fenced or island environments) in California, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, and New York. From 2012 to 2020, Dr. DeNicola and his team sterilized 493 deer via tubal ligation and ovariectomy. They noted an average reduction in deer abundance of 25% from Year 1 to Year 2. At research sites with 4 years of sterilization treatment (4 sites), they noted an average total reduction of 45%. His results demonstrate that significant reductions in local deer densities using high percentage surgical sterilization programs can be achieved. In this webinar Dr. DeNicola also provides details on long-term program maintenance strategies using local volunteers.
About The Presenter – Anthony J. DeNicola, PH.D.
Dr. Anthony DeNicola is President of White Buffalo, Inc., a non-profit research organization dedicated to conserving ecosystems through wildlife population control research and management. He holds a B.S. from Trinity College of Hartford, CT, an M.S. from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and a Ph.D. from Purdue University. In addition to being certified as a wildlife biologist by The Wildlife Society, he held/holds research affiliate positions with Yale University, University of Illinois, Rutgers University, Trinity College of Hartford, and the Denver Zoological Society. Dr. DeNicola has coordinated numerous suburban deer management/research programs, conducted several suburban deer sterilization research projects, and trained numerous professionals in wildlife euthanasia techniques. He has 30+ publications in reputable scientific journals and has presented at numerous professional conferences. His professional interests are behavioral/ecological approaches to wildlife damage control, wildlife reproductive control, and control of introduced vertebrate species. Most recently he has been involved with international research efforts assisting colleagues with capturing endangered Argali Sheep in Mongolia and working with the Royal Government of Bhutan to establish a wild pig management program. He is a member of the National Animal Damage Control Association, the Society for Conservation Biology and The Wildlife Society.