Deer casualtiei
increase as
habitats are lost
Kelly Potter
The Pendulum
Tuesday’s wildlife equal
ity highlights an issue that
North Carolina is facing more
often.
Anne Kerns Hice, who
works in the conservatibri edu
cation division of the North
Carolina State Wildlife Re
sources Commission, says her
main concern these days is
making the public aware of
what to do when an animal loses
its habitat.
“You never approach a
wild critter. The animals can do
a lot of damage wheo hurt.
People should immediately call
the wildlife Comniissioh,’
Kems Hice said.
There are more deer in
North Carolina and Virginia
than when the pilgrims came
Over. Kems-Hice said. “As long
its they are plentiful, these kind
of incidents will continue to
happen.”
Deer hunting is one way
deer populations are managed
in North Carolina. In 1976, the
deer harvest was 23,184 (deer
killed by hunters). In 1990, the
deer harvest increased to
104,413, she said.
Continuous changes are
made to the rules and regula
tions for hunting and fishing.
‘You have to adjust the man
agement of deer herds. If they
weren’t hunted, disease would
set in and they would be wiped
out,” Kems Hice said.
Cars play a big part in many
deer casualties. More than
3,000 big animals collided with
cars in 1990, she said.
Human casualties have
also occurred. Kern Hice said a
Richmond County man was
Julled when his car hit a deer.
The development of shop
ping centers, schools and super
highways contribute to the loss
of wildlife habitat. Lack of a
predator also plays a part.
"Cars, 16-wheelers and man
have become the predator,”
Kems Hice said.
“In the next five years, we
are really going to see a prob
lem. Right now, we are just
beginning to see," she said.
t(
Habitat
Workers from the North Carolina Wildlife Commission tend to a young doe that crashed through a window in
the Fine Arts Building Tuesday morning.
Deer
f
From Page 1
deer. I called Campus Security and
the Police Department Then I
called veterinarian Jeff Wilkins
because I wanted to save the deer's
life."
The doe was crossing the
street from woods behind Jordan
Center when a car, frightening the
doe, caused her to become
confused. The doe was fooled by
the mirror like glass and plunged
through iL
"She probably saw the
reflection of the trees in the glass
and thought it was an escape route
for her," said Sterling Baker,
district captain of district five of
the North Carolina State Wildlife
Commission.
Harlan Hall, game biologist
for the State Wildlife
Commission, gave the doe a
tranquilizer shot but it was too
late as the deer died from shock
and loss of blood at approximately
9:20 a.m.
Hall said this type of deer
casualty isn’t all that uncommon.
"An overflow of deer at this
time of the year causes more deer
to come out of the woods into the
city, thus causing more
casualties," Hall said.
Damage to the Fine Arts
Building is estimate to l»tweea
'$3^^ 'iid $4b0.
TpT'
From Page 1
"They were absolutely amazed by
the number of volunteers that
came out that had no idea who
who they were, or knew anything
about the family, and yet, they
were willing to help," Barnhill
said.
Barnhill said a lot of people
were at the site Saturday. There
were even people on cratches. The
Cooks couldn't believe the
support. "That was the best
feeling they had." Barnhill said.
Pile said the family was a
little apprehensive at first. Then
they realized that Habitat wasn't a
charity, but a partnership. She said
when the family started working
with the students, they started
warming up to them. "They
started developing a friendship."
Asked why he became so
involved with Habitat For
Humanity. Barnhill said. "It’s one
of the most down to earth
organizations. There's something
special about Habitat. If you
donate money, you just bought
something. It doesn't go to a
fundraising campaign that you
never see. You're out there doing
the work, and your money goes
right to the family and right to the
house."
Barnhill said Habitat is
rewarding quickly. "It’s concrete."
Barnhill thanks everyone that
has helped so far. but says to
those that haven’t helped so far.
"give it a U7...it’s great!"
Zoning
The doe crashed through this double paned window after being spooked
by traffic while crossing the road.
.■/. it'-; /'.’j ^
From Page 1
Bernadette Dove, zoning
coordinator of Elon College, said
the house they are having the
most trouble getting to comply
with the ordinance are the
fraternity houses not recognized by
the school.
"The house two doors down
from the Hardees is one we are
having problems with," Dove
said. "There are more than three
unrelated students living there. If
their address is there that is where
they live."
Sandy Simmons the owner of
the house two doors down from
Hardees said she rents the house to
four boys but she has yet tobe
noti_fiedJ)j;^ th^tqwn ^boui^zoning
regualtions.