Each year since 2012, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources has conducted “spotlight distance sampling surveys to obtain a non-harvest-based estimate of deer population densities around the state. This data also provides trend information for these populations.”
Some property owners in the Greenbrier Valley may receive postcards in their mailboxes giving notification that a spotlight survey will be completed locally over the course of a certain time frame.
“Visual sighting information will be collected from main roads using state vehicles searching adjacent fields and woods with spotlights,” according WVDNR postcards.
Beginning ½ hour after sunset and continuing for several hours, biologists and wildlife managers will count the number of deer in an area as part of its white-tailed deer management plan.
DNR personnel will not be entering private property in order to determine herd population.
“The survey involves driving along predetermined routes and spotlighting deer to count by age and sex when possible, according to WVDNR. “Distances to the deer, as well as compass angle, and distance traveled, are noted and submitted for statistical analysis. A computer program then calculates the total area surveyed and the number of deer per square mile that were present.”
Al Niederberger, assistant district wildlife biologist, noted that “the survey provides a conservative estimate of deer abundance. Wildlife biologists also take into account food availability, time of year, and other factors that may affect their interpretation of the results obtained.”
“These spotlight-distance surveys are conducted to determine relative abundance of deer in… counties,” noted District Wildlife Biologist Rich Rogers. “This information, when added to other data sources collected throughout the year, helps to better manage county deer herds.”
Fliers describing the survey may also be distributed along the routes and DNR personnel will speak with landowners during the week prior to conducting the survey.
“We really don’t want to disturb people while conducting the surveys, and if people ask us to leave, we do,” said Rogers. He also noted that it was important for people to realize they were only looking and not shooting any deer for survey collections. Nor will live or dead deer be collected as part of this effort.
For more information, contact Todd Dowdy, district wildlife biologist, DNR District IV Office at 304-256-6947.
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