Since 1990, California has lost nearly half its deer population, according to the state Department of Fish and Game.
"Our deer are surviving, they're not thriving," said Craig Stowers, deer program manager at Fish and Game. "Quite frankly, until people start taking this seriously, we're going to continue to experience these types of declines."
This forest icon is on the wane mainly for one simple reason: habitat loss.
Between 1990 and 2000, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 75,000 acres per year were converted to low-density housing across California. A recent Bee analysis of housing data showed a similar trend over the past decade, at least until the recession began. The rate was even greater before 1990.
This land conversion eliminated food and migratory corridors vital to deer.
Source: Sacramento Bee
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