Deer on Nantucket

Deer Nationwide

Every year the continent’s most dangerous wild animal kills about 200 Americans, injures 29,000 others, causes $4 billion in vehicle damage, spreads debilitating diseases to tens of thousands of humans and dogs, destroys gardens, wildflowers, and herbs, threatens forest sustainability, and damages native ecosystems.

That animal is the white-tailed deer. It is grossly overpopulated in the eastern half of the nation because its major predators — wolves and cougars — have been eliminated and because suburban landscapes have created ideal deer habitat. In rural areas hunting provides only limited control; in heavily settled areas it provides none.

ACK Deer Population

Long extinct on Nantucket, the founders of the current herd were brought to the island in the 1920’s

Currently per MassWildlife
8,000-12,000 175+ / Square Mile

In 5 Years
12,000-15,000 250+ / Square Mile

Mass Fisheries & Wildlife Board Goal
860 <18 / Square Mile

Yes, It’s Really That Many

MassWildlife has highest confidence in ACK population estimate of all Wildlife Management Zone estimates

• Supported by 2024 Deer Harvest
• Deer Hunt Reported: 871
• Plus Unreported
• Total 2024 Deer Deaths: ~2,000
• Smaller herd estimates wouldn’t support 2,000 deaths while continuing observed herd expansion

Natural Predators

• Black Bears
• Wolves
• Coyotes
• Cougars
• Bobcats
• Humans – only natural predator present on ACK

ACK vs Mainland

• Higher Deer Density
• No Natural Predators
• Unique Habitats
• Few Scavengers to Remove Remains
• Barriers to Off-Island Hunters

Deer Impacts

Other wildlife, plants and insects depend on a diverse and balanced forest and healthy understory

• ACK Tickborne Diseases
• Humans & Pets
• Vehicle Collisions
• Economic Costs
• Deer Destroy 
• Overbrowse Seedlings & Saplings Degrading Forest Health and Impacting Other Wildlife & Plants
• Coastal Erosion
  • Walking on cliff edges creates slides
  • Beach bedding damages vegetation that stabilizes shoreline sand

ACK Tickborne Diseases

• Lyme
  15%+ year-round population infected
  60% ACK households affected
  Highest rate in U.S.
  Believed to be much higher as Majority doesn’t get reported
• Babesiosis
• Anaplasmosis
• Alpha Gal
  

Economic Costs

• Societal Health Care
• Loss of Income
• Loss of Productivity
• Property Damage
• Vehicle Damage
• Agricultural Damage
• Accelerated Coastal Erosion

Deer Destroy

• Native Plants & Ecosystems
• Dunes & Beaches
• Trees & Shrubs
• Gardens & Landscapes
• Window Boxes
• In-Town Plantings
• Cranberry & Farm Crops