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Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 43(4), 2007, pp. 726-730
© Wildlife Disease Association  2007
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SHORT COMMUNICATION

Effectiveness of Spayvac® for Reducing White-tailed Deer Fertility

 Shawn L. Locke1,5, Matthew W. Cook1, Louis A. Harveson2, Donald S. Davis3, Roel R. Lopez1, Nova J. Silvy1 and Mark A. Fraker4

1 Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA;
2 Department of Natural Resource Management, Sul Ross State University, Alpine, Texas 78930, USA;
3 Department of Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA;
4 TerraMar Environmental Research Ltd., 8617 Lochside Drive, Sidney, British Columbia V8L 1M8, Canada
5 Corresponding author (email: sloc{at}tamu.edu)

ABSTRACT:   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.
  Key words:  Fertility control, Odocoileus virginianus, population management, urban white-tailed deer.






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Copyright © 2007 by the Wildlife Disease Association.