Enabling impact-based management of acceptance capacity for white-tailed deer in southern Michigan

Stakeholders incur escalating frequency and variety of impacts (recognized, important effects of interactions with wildlife) from white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus) as a result of broader distribution and increased abundance of deer and people. The purpose of this project was to enable the application of impact-based management of deer in southern Michigan though study of causal links between wildlife-related experiences, impacts incurred by stakeholders and acceptance capacity for deer. I report on findings from 20 qualitative interviews and a mail-back questionnaire sent to 3,520 households. Residents of southern Michigan frequently identify a visible deer herd, a perceptual cue to the naturalness of the area in which they live, as a positive impact, and a concern about deer-vehicle collisions as a negative impact of deer populations. Perception of impacts is a primary factor affecting acceptance capacity for deer. Exploration of impact perception and acceptance capacity among 3 stakeholder groups in deer management (farmers, hunters and non-farming, non-hunting rural residents) indicated differences. I suggest management focused on these impacts may increase stakeholder satisfaction and decrease issue activity associated with deer populations.