Maryland approves deer birth control (video)

Bad news for Bambi, deer procreation may soon become a thing of the past. Maryland is the first state to approve the use of birth control on deer, reports WAMU.

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(Source: Creative Commons, paparutzi)

Deer running across interstates, nibbling on gardens, and hanging out on sidewalks at any given hour has proven troublesome for people. In an effort to curb population growth, researchers came up with Gonacon, a one-shot birth control for deer.

The GnRH vaccine is injected into a deer, ‘tying up’ the GnRH produced within its body, preventing it from reproducing. The vaccine produces infertility in both males and females.

Gonacon though is no “magic bullet” for deer population control because of limitations in manpower and expense, says Paul Peditto, director of the Wildlife and Heritage Service. A deer first would have to be tranquilized with a dart gun, before injection can take place. The Environmental Protection Agency also requires injected deer to be tagged.

READ THE FULL STORY at WAMU

 

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