With no humans voicing protest, a group of Calvert citizens and experts are moving forward with strategy to impact the local deer population.
“The whole idea is to thin the herd, for a multitude of reasons,” said Commissioner Gerald W. “Jerry” Clark [R].
During their Tuesday, April 16 meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve the codified establishment of a deer workgroup. A 13-member panel had studied the issue of problems posed within the community by an abundance of deer. The commissioners also approved expanding the group’s membership.
A presentation of the group’s research and recommendations was presented to the commissioners by Calvert Division of Natural Resources Chief Karyn Molines.
While Molines admitted local officials “really don’t know how many deer are in Calvert County,” the statistics regarding reported motor vehicle collisions with deer and the number of reported cases of Lyme disease—deer are carriers of the ticks that cause the affliction— were indications proactive measures needed to be taken. Another problem has been the loss of crops and vegetation caused by hungry deer. Molines added that an overabundance of deer threatens Calvert’s ecological balance.
The group determined that hunting was “the most economical and practical” way of getting the population numbers to dwindle.
Commissioner Susan Shaw [R] asked Molines if the workgroup had asked the Maryland Department of Natural Resources if Calvert could expand its deer hunting season. Molines state the group thought it should be approved as a formal group before they took such action.
“The only way we are going to get this problem under control is to increase hunting,” said Shaw. The commissioner opined that the statistical number of deer struck by vehicles in Calvert represents “a significant undercount.”
“Obviously, something needs to be done,” said Commissioner Steven R. Weems [R], who noted deer were “reintroduced” to Calvert County by way of Western Maryland during the 20xth century. The rationale for that was using venison as a diet staple. In fact, the organization Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry has been part of the workgroup. The report states the organization “donates approximately 6,000 pounds of venison annually to local food pantries.”
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