The Science of Overabundance

Download or read book The Science of Overabundance written by William J. Mcshea and published by National Geographic Books. This book was released on 2003-01-17 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Easily the most common of America’s large wildlife species, white-tailed deer are often referred to as "overabundant." But when does a species cross the threshold from common to overpopulated? This question has been the focus of debate in recent years among hunters, animal rights activists, and biologists. William McShea and his colleagues explore every aspect of the issue in The Science of Overabundance. Are there really too many deer? Do efforts to control deer populations really work? What broader lessons can we learn from efforts to understand deer population dynamics? Through twenty-three chapters, the editors and contributors dismiss widely held lore and provide solid information on this perplexing problem.