The deer population at Myre-Big Island State Park has dropped dramatically over the winter – not from the difficult winter, but from free-roaming dogs.

Tuesday, March 13, 2001

The deer population at Myre-Big Island State Park has dropped dramatically over the winter – not from the difficult winter, but from free-roaming dogs.

Park manager Allen Henderson said his staff knows of at least 28 killings this winter, especially in the last few weeks. Pet dogs are the culprits, running down the deer purely for sport. Henderson said there is no evidence the dogs are feeding on the carcasses.

&uot;We think these dogs are coming across the lake, just two or three of them, and running the deer at night,&uot; Henderson said. &uot;They’re somebody’s pets that aren’t properly supervised.&uot;

Henderson hopes the recent snow will help his staff find clear tracks so conservation officers can track the dogs to their owners, who could face charges.

&uot;We’re asking all dog owners to restrain their pets through day and night,&uot; Henderson said. &uot;They shouldn’t be running loose. It doesn’t take a big dog to bring down a deer. Even small dogs can bring down deer if they work in a pack.&uot;

Dave Dahl, a Department of Natural Resources wildlife technician,

said deer can normally outrun a pursuing dog, but this year’s ice-crusted snow has given dogs a deadly advantage.

&uot;They (dogs) can just fly on top of the ice. The deer punch through the crust and get slowed down,&uot; Dahl said.

Henderson said deer that normally fall victim to preying dogs are generally younger and less able to cope with the stresses of late winter, making them easy targets.

&uot;We’ve had to put down three injured deer that were obviously not going to survive. That’s a difficult situation,&uot; Henderson said.

The devastation of the deer population from dogs is also a concern in northern Iowa. Managers at Rice Lake State Park near Lake Mills are dealing with deer kills this winter -&160;more than 40 of the parks 200 white tails have perished.

Wildlife officials also reported a pack of dogs chasing a deer into the town of St. Ansgar, Iowa last week and killing it in a woman’s front yard.

&uot;These are not wild dogs – they’re pets. Most people don’t realize what their animals are doing. When the dogs are at home, they’re tail-wagging pets, but they become vicious killers when they take to the woods,&uot; said Iowa conservation officer Richard Bowman.

&uot;I think the message here is that people need to take responsibility for their pets. If everyone kept their dogs at home, there would be no problem,&uot; Bowman said.