No local public meetings on deer archery program scheduled for Annandale
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| Deer in Green Spring Gardens. |
Annandale residents
concerned about Fairfax County’s decision to allow the use of archery to
control the deer population in several Mason District parks are encouraged to
attend one of two upcoming public meetings.
Unfortunately,
neither of these sessions on the 2013-14 archery program is actually in the
Mason area. The first one is tonight, Aug. 13, 6-7 p.m., at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. The second meeting
is Tuesday, Aug. 20, 6-7 p.m., at the South Fairfax County Government Center,
8350 Richmond Highway, Alexandria.
neither of these sessions on the 2013-14 archery program is actually in the
Mason area. The first one is tonight, Aug. 13, 6-7 p.m., at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. The second meeting
is Tuesday, Aug. 20, 6-7 p.m., at the South Fairfax County Government Center,
8350 Richmond Highway, Alexandria.
This is the first time that deer hunting has been
approved for what the Animal Services Division is referring to as the “Annandale
Cluster,” which includes Mason District Park on Columbia Pike and Holmes Run Stream Valley in Annandale,
Roundtree Park and the White Gardens Park in the Falls Church area of Mason District,
and the Lillian Carey Park in Bailey’s Crossroads.
approved for what the Animal Services Division is referring to as the “Annandale
Cluster,” which includes Mason District Park on Columbia Pike and Holmes Run Stream Valley in Annandale,
Roundtree Park and the White Gardens Park in the Falls Church area of Mason District,
and the Lillian Carey Park in Bailey’s Crossroads.
“Deer population control is a necessary management
tool to be conducted wherever it is safe to do so,” says Fairfax County wildlife biologist Vicky Monroe. “Our average deer population density is 40 to 100
deer per square mile, up to an estimated 400 deer per square mile in some
areas,” she said. That is far above the “biological carrying-capacity for
white-tailed deer,” which is 15 to 20 per square mile. When the deer population
exceeds that limit, “damage to native habitat occurs.”
tool to be conducted wherever it is safe to do so,” says Fairfax County wildlife biologist Vicky Monroe. “Our average deer population density is 40 to 100
deer per square mile, up to an estimated 400 deer per square mile in some
areas,” she said. That is far above the “biological carrying-capacity for
white-tailed deer,” which is 15 to 20 per square mile. When the deer population
exceeds that limit, “damage to native habitat occurs.”
According to Monroe,
“qualified archery groups” have already been
selected via lottery and have been assigned to specific parks. They are taking
part in mandatory safety training during August.
“qualified archery groups” have already been
selected via lottery and have been assigned to specific parks. They are taking
part in mandatory safety training during August.
Even with qualified, trained hunters, the use
of archery in the Annandale area presents a major safety risk, as these parks
are in densely populated areas and are heavily used by dog walkers, hikers,
bikers, and kids. All of the parks in the Annandale Cluster except the White
Gardens have playgrounds.
of archery in the Annandale area presents a major safety risk, as these parks
are in densely populated areas and are heavily used by dog walkers, hikers,
bikers, and kids. All of the parks in the Annandale Cluster except the White
Gardens have playgrounds.
Although the hunters are supposed to post signs
warning of an upcoming hunt, these parks and trails are easily accessible from
all directions, so people entering a park from a backyard or side street could
easily miss a warning sign. In previous years, the warning signs referred to
“deer management,” which didn’t make it clear that people would be shooting
arrows.
warning of an upcoming hunt, these parks and trails are easily accessible from
all directions, so people entering a park from a backyard or side street could
easily miss a warning sign. In previous years, the warning signs referred to
“deer management,” which didn’t make it clear that people would be shooting
arrows.
Allowing bowhunting
in parks in the Annandale area is “extremely dangerous, considering the human
population in the area,” said Michelle Raiszadeh, a biologist who works with
21st Century Deer Management in Fairfax County, a group that promotes more
humane, effective solutions to the deer problem.
in parks in the Annandale area is “extremely dangerous, considering the human
population in the area,” said Michelle Raiszadeh, a biologist who works with
21st Century Deer Management in Fairfax County, a group that promotes more
humane, effective solutions to the deer problem.
“Many people who use parks
haven’t received warning letters and won’t understand what is going on,” she
said. “The county should seek permission from the community before going ahead
with the bowhunting program. This is all going on behind our backs.”
haven’t received warning letters and won’t understand what is going on,” she
said. “The county should seek permission from the community before going ahead
with the bowhunting program. This is all going on behind our backs.”
One of the
arguments for hunting deer is the danger of deer/vehicle collisions, Raiszadeh
noted, but bowhunting actually increases the risk of collisions, as injured or
frightened deer often run across roads.
arguments for hunting deer is the danger of deer/vehicle collisions, Raiszadeh
noted, but bowhunting actually increases the risk of collisions, as injured or
frightened deer often run across roads.
“Deer hunting is
extremely inhumane,” she said. “People are told that when deer are shot, they
are killed right away. That is not true. They really suffer a lot.”
extremely inhumane,” she said. “People are told that when deer are shot, they
are killed right away. That is not true. They really suffer a lot.”
“And who wants to
have a dying deer in their backyard and have their children see that?” Raiszadeh
said, adding, “if people are so concerned about deer eating their ornamental or
garden plants, there are plenty of solutions that don’t involve killing
animals.”
have a dying deer in their backyard and have their children see that?” Raiszadeh
said, adding, “if people are so concerned about deer eating their ornamental or
garden plants, there are plenty of solutions that don’t involve killing
animals.”
21st Century Deer Management had proposed
the 4-Poster system to kill ticks that cause Lyme disease, and Fairfax County
implemented a 4-Poster pilot project but so far has not released the
results.
the 4-Poster system to kill ticks that cause Lyme disease, and Fairfax County
implemented a 4-Poster pilot project but so far has not released the
results.
“We have entered
our second year of the three-year pilot study,” said Monroe. The county has
been collecting data and is “beginning to see interesting results. We will have
preliminary data regarding the generational effects of the 4-Posters on tick
densities at the end of our second year.”
our second year of the three-year pilot study,” said Monroe. The county has
been collecting data and is “beginning to see interesting results. We will have
preliminary data regarding the generational effects of the 4-Posters on tick
densities at the end of our second year.”
According to Raiszadeh,
21st Century Deer Management offered the county the use of the DeerDeter system
to keep deer off roads, but the county didn’t take advantage of it. Another
solution that is being tried in Maryland by a group called Wildlife Rescue involves
using a sharpshooter to tranquilize a deer and then remove its ovaries so it
can’t reproduce.
21st Century Deer Management offered the county the use of the DeerDeter system
to keep deer off roads, but the county didn’t take advantage of it. Another
solution that is being tried in Maryland by a group called Wildlife Rescue involves
using a sharpshooter to tranquilize a deer and then remove its ovaries so it
can’t reproduce.
You said "Even with qualified, trained hunters, the use of archery in the Annandale area presents a major safety risk, as these parks are in densely populated areas and are heavily used by dog walkers, hikers, bikers, and kids. All of the parks in the Annandale Cluster except the White Gardens have playgrounds."
Yet, you fail to explain what you believe this major safety risk is. Please elaborate. Are you are implying that a dog walker, hiker, biker, and/or child could be hit by an arrow?
I cannot imagine what the geniuses up in the ivory tower at the govt. center are thinking. There are so many more kids than deer in our Annandale parks. Is it going to take one of them being shot or killed before the county realizes they've made a "mistake"? This is complete foolishness.
My kids are now on a 100% DO NOT ENTER order from me concerning entering any of the Annandale/Holmes run parks.
This whole thing makes me sick.
I took a recent afternoon walk through Roundtree and along Holmes Run and was surprised to see the playground at Roundtree was gone. Anyone know when or why that happened? I didn't see any warning signs about deer hunting — or any deer.