February 9th, 2011
Census 2011: City begins survey of deer population

SUBMITTED REPORT

The city of San Marcos is conducting its first deer survey during February and early March in cooperation with Texas State University and a group of graduate students.

Following direction from the City Council last year to conduct a deer census, the San Marcos Animal Services Department has contracted with Dr. John Baccus, a Texas State biology professor.

His graduate students in wildlife studies will take the first census of the deer population in San Marcos. A second count will take place in August when deer herds are at their highest population density.

The students will focus their work in four areas of San Marcos that have sizeable deer populations: Willow Creek; Westover Neighborhood, Bishop Street, Franklin Drive and Loop Street; Holland Street and Sierra Circle; and Spring Lake Hills

The count will be conducted from 4:30 p.m. until dusk when deer herds are most active. The students will use spotlights to identify deer locations.

Trucks used in the project will have signs saying “Deer Survey.” Motorists are asked to drive carefully in the area where the students are working.

“Our goal is to get baseline information about the size of the deer population in San Marcos,” said Bert Stratemann, Animal Services Manager. “We anticipate receiving a report next fall which will be presented to the Animal Services Advisory Board. From there we can discuss what actions, if any, need to be taken to manage the deer herds in our community.”

Stratemann said that the four areas in the survey are neighborhoods where deer are active and where some residents have complained about deer destroying landscapes, diseased animals, and deer being hit by cars.