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News Release
5-13-10
WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SEEKING
DEER DAMAGE INFORMATION FOR LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR'S STUDY
West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass is requesting the state’s agriculture community – as well as urban homeowners – to provide information on the effects of the state’s deer herd on their properties. The information is needed by May 24 for a review being conducted by the Legislative Auditor’s Office regarding West Virginia’s deer herd management program.
“We are looking for information on the deer herd’s overall cost to the state at its current level, both in terms of direct financial loss and lost opportunity,” said Commissioner Douglass. “It’s no secret that farmers have been unhappy for years with the growing number of deer in the state. This is an opportunity to objectively examine the costs associated with the deer herd, not just the revenue lost.”
Specifically, Douglass said he is looking for information on:
• Direct crop losses
• Damage to fencing
• Costs of exclusionary measures (electrified fencing, etc.)
• Changes in farming practices due to deer population (stopped planting certain crops/plant extra crops?)
• Number of deer damage permits requested/granted from DNR
• Number of deer harvested with permits
• Effect of using damage permits on the farm (do deer damage permits help?)
• Damage to landscaping in rural and urban communities
Commissioner Douglass said photos and narrative descriptions are also welcome, and stressed that time is very short to collect this information. “This is an extremely important opportunity to focus attention on the losses being sustained by landowners and homeowners statewide.”
“The Legislative Auditor’s Office needs this information by the first of June,” he said. “The Department of Agriculture would like to have it a week ahead of that date so we can tally, organize and deliver it to them in a timely fashion.”
Information may be mailed to West Virginia Department of Agriculture, 1900 Kanawha Blvd. East, Charleston, WV 25305, Attn: Deer Management Review. It may be faxed to 304-558-2203. Please put “Deer Management Review” on a cover page. E-mail information to douglass@ag.state.wv.us and include “Deer Management Review” in the subject line.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs, as mandated by state law. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials in West Virginia. For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org.
“The Basis of All Wealth is Agriculture.”
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