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  • Concerns for visiting deer

    Question

    For decades we have seen dear families at least twice a day on our property (Hemlock Pt Rd, Russell Twshp, Geauga County near Chagrin Falls & Madroo Farm). Now I see none. I heard gunshots the other night (that is a too frequent occurrence) & am concerned they may have been (illegally?) killed. Have you noticed a change in their patterns? Do you know anything? I miss them.

    Naturalist's Response

    I haven’t heard anything about problems with the deer in our area.
    Deer have what are referred to as home ranges, so although they can have routines and routes that they normally follow, they sometimes can change those places depending on available food and shelter. You can think of it as similar to having a territory. And it is unlikely that deer will abandon a home range, because there are always other deer to take their place.
    From what I know, the deer population is doing very well, so I’m sure that you will see deer again in your yard. They may just be favoring another place right now.
    If you have concerns about shooting in your area, however, that would definitely be something to take up with your local officials. Thanks for your question!
    -Naturalist Denise Wolfe