As the firearms deer season approaches, hunters in Wildwood raise alarms about a significant decline in the local deer population, which the city is set to manage through continued culling efforts. The deer density in Wildwood currently stands at an unsustainable 72 per square mile, prompting city officials to engage wildlife management organization White Buffalo Inc. to devise a multi-year management plan that has already culled 661 deer over the past two years.
At a recent council meeting, local hunters expressed frustration, claiming that the aggressive culling strategy may harm the overall ecosystem, citing concerns over rising coyote populations as deer vanish. With calls for a more thorough survey, including aerial assessments, residents are debating the balance between deer management and conservation, as future discussions loom for the 2026 program and its potential modifications.
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