Effectiveness of Spayvac for reducing white-tailed deer fertility.
Overabundant white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations have been reported in many urban and suburban communities across the United States. Large populations of deer can potentially increase the risk of human-wildlife conflicts, such as deer-vehicle collisions, transmission of disease to humans, and vegetation damage. In 2003, efforts to control white-tailed deer numbers were initiated at the National Aeronautical and Space Agency's (NASA) Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas, using the long-lasting, single-dose contraceptive SpayVac. Our objectives were to evaluate the effectiveness of SpayVac for reducing white-tailed deer fertility and determine the partial cost for treatment. Between 2003 and 2004, we monitored 45 adult female deer (34 treated with SpayVac, 11 controls treated with a placebo). Fawning rate over 2 yr for deer treated with SpayVac >30 days prior to the rut was 0% (n=31), whereas the fawning rate for control deer was 78% (n=11). Inoculation 1 mo prior to the breeding season was sufficient time to achieve fertility control. We conclude that SpayVac can effectively reduce the fertility of urban white-tailed deer.
Locke
Shawn L
SL
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA. sloc@tamu.edu
Cook
Matthew W
MW
Harveson
Louis A
LA
Davis
Donald S
DS
Lopez
Roel R
RR
Silvy
Nova J
NJ
Fraker
Mark A
MA
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000502:physiology; D003269:Contraception, Immunologic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D003670:Deer / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D007117:Immunization, Secondary / Q000662:veterinary; D011155:Population Control / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology
D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive