Return to: Harvesting
Up: Outline

Conclusions

The White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) was on the verge of extinction in the late 1800s, but now enjoys a vigorous population of approximately 25-30 million in the United States. There is considerable dialogue between hunters and animal rights activists as to the value that hunting plays in managing deer populations. Both sides use the language of population dynamics (birth rate, overcrowding, and harvesting) to make their case. Advocates of hunting claim that annual harvesting prevents the needless starvation of an animal that has a large birth rate and already exists at the carrying capacity of its environment. In contrast, advocates of animal rights argue their case using both ethical arguments and arguments based on population dynamics, such as the claim that hunters kill a disproportionate number of bucks, thereby increasing the deer birth rate.

It is difficult to determine who's mathematical argument is correct, but you now have many of the tools that you need to follow the arguments and to formulate your own opinions.

Return to: Harvesting
Up: Outline

The Geometry Center Calculus Development Team

The Geometry Center Home Page