Bald Head Island provides an excellent habitat for the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Since there is no hunting allowed on Bald Head Island and there are few incidents of mortality due to vehicle collisions, the population thrives and can reach unsustainable numbers.

The Village of Bald Head Island has been monitoring the deer population through its annual environmental services contract with the Bald Head Island Conservancy dating back to the early 2000’s.  The Conservancy performs spotlight surveys in the summer and uses cameras in the fall to track and estimate the deer population and makes management recommendations to the Village.

In the past, the Village has used a culling and/or a combination of culling and immunocontraception to manage the population.  The immunocontraception program, the first of its kind in NC, was initiated on BHI by way of a research permit issued by NC Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) for 5 years beginning in 2014.  The permit was extended for 2 years and was suspended in 2021 when the population fell below the target herd size of approximately 200 deer.

Since the population has increased, the Village will need to perform a cull in winter 2025/2026 to reduce the population. Consideration is being made to restart the immunocontraception program in late 2026/early 2027 but that remains to be seen as the Village Council continues to discuss pros, cons, and overall cost-benefit to the island.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

(These will be added to as questions from the public are received and additional information is available.)

Why does the Village have to cull deer?

Deer have a high reproductive potential and populations increase quickly.

These are the general negative impacts associated with an overabundance of deer:

• Native plant and wildlife populations, habitat quality, and ecosystem processes suffer.
• There is a decline in biodiversity (the number and variety of species of living organisms) in natural areas and a reduction in the ability of native plants to survive and reproduce. Repeated removal of stems, leaves, and flowering parts of plants reduces the height, vigor, and reproduction of plants.
• There are negative impacts to wildlife that need woodland understory for forage, nesting, and cover. Significant reduction in vegetation that birds use for foraging, escaping predators and nesting also occurs.
• Individual deer health declines with a reduction in the availability of forage.
• The spread of disease in both deer (e.g., chronic wasting disease) and humans (e.g., Lyme disease) increases.  

These are the key factors that indicate the need for culling on Bald Head Island:

• Following the fall 2024 survey, Bald Head Island Conservancy recommended that the Village return to some kind of deer population management in 2025.
• The survey revealed that the deer population is over the established target of 200.  The survey estimated around 221 individuals and a projected increase due to fawn recruitment.  The fawn population has increased by 53% since 2020.
• The potential impact of deer herbivory on the globally imperiled maritime forest is a key concern driving the need for deer management. Current data on this impact is limited and new data is expected to be collected this year.
• If no immediate action is taken, experts predict the population will increase significantly over the coming year due to fawn recruitment.
• Bald Head Island has a deer density of 74 deer per square mile, significantly higher than Brunswick County’s 20 per square mile and a recommended density on barrier islands of less than 50 per square mile.
• The available deer habitat on the island decreased by 4.7% between 2016 and 2024 due to increased development.  The island is about 60 percent built out.

What is the cost of culling?

The proposed FY26 budget includes up to $50,000 for deer culling for winter 2025/2026.  [BD1] 

What is the cost of using immunocontraception?

Immunocontraception can cost as much as $4,000 a deer.  The estimated first-year cost is about $100,000.

Can the Village use nonlethal methods to manage the deer population?

The only nonlethal method available to the Village is immunocontraception. The Village has used immunocontraception in the past and is considering adding it to the program after the initial cull (in late 2026/early 2027). The practice is still considered experimental. The free-ranging nature of deer on BHI makes it difficult to deliver contraceptives to them. 

Relocation of deer is not allowed.

What is the protocol for immunocontraception?

The BHI Conservancy’s team (some hired specifically for this project) uses the birth control vaccine, Gonacon™, which is administered to female deer. To vaccinate the deer, they must first anesthetize them using a dart gun to remotely administer anesthesia drugs. Darting takes place from baiting stations established around the island as well as from roadsides, at dusk and into the night. Public, pet, and wildlife safety are top priorities, and no darting takes place without full consideration of the surroundings. Communications protocols are in place to coordinate with the Public Safety Department.

Once the deer is anesthetized, they vaccinate her, assess her health, apply tracking devices, and inject a reversal drug to counteract the anesthesia. To assess deer health they check her age, and general physical condition, and draw blood to test for disease. This information will allow them to closely monitor the health of the island’s deer herd and can impact future management decisions. To monitor the health of the deer after anesthesia they apply a lightweight radio collar to track the deer and ear tags to identify individuals.

Are any other communities in NC using immunocontraception?

No

Why doesn’t nature “take its course” and reduce the deer population through natural means?

The effects of a lack of natural predators to maintain population growth, development expansion, absence of disease, the adaptive food habits of deer and backyard deer feeding stations, all combine to encourage very high populations of deer. High populations may be able to persist for a long time, absent a disease epidemic like chronic wasting disease. In short, letting nature “take its course” and allowing deer populations to increase without any control have significantly impacted plant and other animal species.

What can I do to help keep the deer population controlled and healthy?

Please don’t feed the deer! Deer naturally forage alone or in small groups, spreading out to sample natural foods, which are usually spread across the landscape. Artificial feeding sites, however, attract many deer and other wildlife to one spot. Feeding deer is harmful to the deer population and creates a nuisance for neighbors. Deer fed by humans are more prone to disease because of an unbalanced diet. Deer may return to the same source even when the feed is no longer available and often end up “visiting” neighboring properties. 

Include native, deer-resistant plants within your landscape. Assistance on these plant species is available from the NC Cooperative Extension Service.

You can also use a variety of spray applications that are designed to protect landscape plants from deer by making them unappetizing. 

What is the target deer population for Bald Head Island?

Currently, the target deer population is 200 deer.  This was based on a 2011 study that found no observable impacts of deer browsing on maritime forest at that population level and social carrying capacity (resident tolerance) at the time.  However, some literature suggests a more conservative target based on deer density in healthy barrier island habitats, potentially around 118 deer for Bald Head Island.

What do biological carrying capacity and social carrying capacity mean?

Biological carrying capacity is the number of deer the habitat can support.  Social carrying capacity is the number of deer the community is comfortable with.

Who will be performing the deer management operation?

Deer culling will be conducted by a wildlife management firm that employs professional sharp shooters.  The firm will have been vetted and/or recommended by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) and will work under NCWRC permits and guidance.  The vendor will be chosen through a competitive bidding process. Neither Village employees nor citizens are permitted to participate.

What is done with the culled deer?

Historically, deer meat is processed and distributed to families in need.

What do I do if I have additional questions?

General questions about the deer culling program can go to the Village’s Public Information Officer at (910) 457-9700 ext. 1025 or public.information@villagebhi.org.

Conclusion

Bald Head Island faces a situation where the deer population significantly exceeds the established target, necessitating management intervention in 2025. The decision between culling, immunocontraception, or a combination of both involves careful consideration of financial costs, effectiveness in population control, ecological impacts on the valuable maritime forest, and the preferences of the island community.

Further assessments of public opinion are being considered to inform the Village Council’s decision-making process. The upcoming forest vegetation assessment in 2025 will also provide crucial data on the current impacts of the deer herd on the island’s unique ecosystem.

Public Input

The public can submit comments HERE.  Please be sure to specify if you are a property owner on BHI.

Resources

BHI Conservancy White-Tailed Deer Management Report – 2024

BHI Conservancy Deer Herd Management Methods – March 2025

BHI Conservancy Retreat Presentation 2025 – Slides  Video

BHI Conservancy Retreat Presentation 2024 – Slides Video

Deer Resistant Plants – NC Cooperative Extension

White Tailed Deer Fact Sheet – NC Wildlife Resources Commission

Featured image by Jerry Waits