White-tailed Deer are found
throughout North America; from southern Canada,
through mainland United States, and reaching
Central America as far as Bolivia. This ubiquitous
nature likely has led to the fact that 11
States proclaim White-tailed Deer to be their
State Animal. In North America, there are
16 subspecies of White-tailed Deer differentiated
by size, coloration, geographic location,
and biological differences.
White-tailed Deer:
- run up to 40 mph, and jump 8 - 9 foot
fences.
- range in size from 100 - 300 pounds and stand about 3.5 feet at the shoulder, depending on sex, age, geographic location, and general nutrition.
- have a lifespan of about 10 years in the wild.
- mate between October and December; gestation
is 200 days, and healthy does over one-year
old generally produce 2 fawns between
May and June.
- are herbivores (eat vegetation only).
- are ruminants; i.e. they have 4 stomachs
to aide in the digestion of all types
of vegetation.
Beyond the basics, White-tailed Deer have exhibited dramatic population
changes both on Block Island and on the mainland.
It is estimated that before Europeans arrived,
there were 23 to 40 million White-tailed Deer
in North America. However, numbers of White-tailed
Deer were greatly reduced throughout the U.S
until the mid-20th century: and by 1900 White-tailed
Deer were nearly eliminated in the northeastern
United States. Today the White-tailed Deer
population in the U.S. is estimated to be
14-20 million. In the northeast U.S., the
number is believed to be 3 million; a number
previously unattained.
Facts about White-tailed Deer on Block Island:
- White-tailed Deer are one of only 5
types of mammals that live on Block Island.
- Four White-tailed Deer were introduced
on Block Island on February 24, 1967.
- The RI Fish and Wildlife estimated that
the deer population had grown to 700 by
1994.
- According to local hunters, the number
of White-tailed Deer on Block Island after
the close of the 2004-2005 hunting season
on February 18, 2005 is about 225, or
20.5 deer per square mile.
- State of RI density: 7.1 deer per square
mile
- Hunters are the only predators of deer
on BI. During the 2004-2005 hunting season,
166 deer were taken by archery and shotgun hunters. An additional 13 deer were killed by motor vehicles, dogs, and unknown causes.
- Given the generally healthy status of the BI herd, 100+ females can be expected to give birth to 150 - 200 fawns in May - June 2005.
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The
following is taken from the Town of
New Shoreham Town Council Records -
Books L, DD, and EE. The members of
Town Council in 1967 were: Samuel Mott,
president, John C. Dodge, Harold R.
Westcott, Lew Gaffett, and Lester Littlefield.
January 14, 1967
"Thomas C. Littlefield informed the
Town Council of a recent conversation
with Mr. Thomas J. Wright of the Division
of Fish and Game relative to the possibility
of obtaining deer for Block Island.
Mr. Littlefield learned that the State
had a supply on hand at this time and
if the Council made a request for some,
there was a good possibility some could
be had. The Council considered the matter
and thereafter a motion was made, seconded
and unanimously voted to request two
(2) pairs of deer for the Island."
February 6, 1967
"Following the last Council meeting,
the Clerk wrote to Mr. Thomas J. Wright
on behalf of the Council asking for
two (2) pairs of deer for the Island.
A reply from Mr. Wright on February
2, 1967 was read, acknowledging receipt
of the letter and stating that it appears
that they may be able to attempt the
project next week and the deer should
soon be delivered to the Island."
March 6, 1967
"A written complaint in regard to possible
future deer damage to plants, flowers
and gardens [was] received from Maud
F. Messer."
March 13, 1967
"Town librarian Beatrice Ball Dodge
asked about an ordinance regulating
the shooting of deer on the Island."
September 17, 1997
The Town Council voted to set a goal
to "...substantially decrease the number
of deer to ten deer per square mile
on the Island."
January 4, 1999
The Town Council voted to "...adopt
the complete elimination of the deer
population as a Town goal." |
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Connecting People and Nature