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Ohio has more deer than it can manage, said Chris Henney, OFBF�s director of legislative relations. Experts estimate that the deer population is more than 700,000. Ohio Farm Bureau policy calls for reducing that number to 250,000. ODNR says even with a county population at the desired level, deer will move to and concentrate in areas of good habitat. Farm fields and orchards in close proximity to good deer cover are especially vulnerable.
Deer damage to crops, timber and nursery plants cost farm families millions. One Farm Bureau member has documented $70,000 in personal losses, likely an extreme, but indicative of the problem. A Cornell University study said that nationally, deer do more than $2 billion in damage every year.
Ohio farmers are not compensated when they experience crop loss from wildlife damage. |
