Currently
- Nantucket is dangerously overpopulated with deer and the herd is growing exponentially
- MassWildlife estimates 10,000+ currently
- Ecosystem can support 1,700
- Highest density in state – 6x supportable density
- Population increasing every year
- Long extinct on Nantucket, the founders of the current herd were brought to the island in the 1920’s
- Only natural predator is man (island has no wolves, coyotes or bears)
- Fawn survival rate where coyotes are present: 25% / No coyotes present: 88%
- Nantucket has one of the highest U.S. rates of tickborne (Lyme, Babesiosis and HGA) diseases
- 15%+ of year-round population infected (believed to be much higher as cases are underreported)
- Numerous vehicle collisions
- Deer destroy native plants, native ecosystem, gardens & landscapes, dunes & beaches, window boxes, in-town plantings, cranberries, farm crops, trees & shrubs
- Huge economic cost including societal health care, loss of income and productivity, damaged property, cars & agriculture
- Standard fences are ineffective while higher and sturdier fences are very costly