The Key deer are the smallest of the 28 subspecies of Virginia white-tailed deer. Males range from 28-32" at the shoulder and weigh 55 to 80 lbs. Females range from 24-28" at the shoulder and weigh 45 to 65 lbs.
KEY FACTS: Mating Season – Mid to Late Winter: typically October through December. Gestation -6 to 7 months. Fawning Season - Beginning in April and continues through June, twins occur. Age of Maturity - Females are capable of reproducing at 6 to 7 months, but usually do not breed until 1½ years old; yearling males are not likely to breed due to competition with older bucks. Lifespan - Can live up to 19 years, but 10 years is considered old.Males live an average of 3 years; up to a maximum of 12 years.Females live an average of 6½ years; up to a maximum of 19 years. Key Deer in Zoos: There are currently only two (2) zoos that house Key Deer: the Jacksonville zoo and the Tampa zoo. No captive breeding program has been reported at this time.
The Key Deer was first listed as “federally endangered” on March 11, 1967. In 1973 when the Endangered Species Act was passed, the Key Deer was among the first to be listed.
In 2001 R. Lopez published the Ecology of the Key Deer, Study. That study warned of the overpopulation of the Key Deer, and called for specific herd management such as birth-control, translocations, and the safe-guarding of the herd's DNA by way of establishing breeding herds in mainland zoo's. To date, little of that Plan has been implimented.
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KEY DEER DOWNGRADING TO THREATENED & CURRENT OVERPOPULATION REPORTS -Source - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services
2002: The USFWS initiated proceeding to have the Key Deer status downgraded from “endangered” to “threatened” due to the “overabundance of Deer densities at their core range”.
i.e. There were too many Deer (approx. 500 back then) and their habitat could not sustain populations at this level without risk of disease, starvation, habitat destruction, consequences on other species, etc.Downgrading would allow management of the population, would allow for translocation to zoos, etc.
2004: Local interference stopped the Key Deer from being downgraded to threatened.
2006: FWS publically announced that Key Deer Refuge, qoute, “will not intercede to rescue key deer suffering starvation after hurricanes and droughts; agency cites overpopulation of the species and need to numbers adjustment”. 2008: The Key Deer Refuge holds public meetings to discuss the overpopulation of the herd, corrective management measures, and birth control for the Key Deer. 2009: USFWS adopted the “Final Refuge Plan”: Due the “overabundance of Key Deer”, the No Name Key herd of Key Deer will go on birth control. i.e. The number of Deer has dramatically risen in the last seven years, we are now being told the official number of Key Deer exceeds 800; we hear the actual numbers are over 1,000.
2009 USFWS Final Refuge Plan reports: qoute, “The Key Deer have far exceeded the carrying capacity for their habitat and have reached the level of seriously overpopulation”.
2009 USFWS Final Refuge Plan reports: qoute, “The Key Deer are becoming diseased, are destroying their habitat, have caused some native plants to become threatened or endangered, are facing starvation and thirst issues, and are having serious consequences on other species”.
Historically the Population High for the Key Deer was 600 – 700 (FWS)
The Carrying Capacity of the Big Pine/No Name Key Deer herd is 450 – 515 (Lopez, 2001)
The Current Key Deer Population is 800 – 1,000; with 700+ located on BPK/NNK (USFWS)
Human Population growth has not interfered with the rebound of the Key Deer, to the contrary it may have contributed to the recovery.
-Quote:“Endangered Key deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium) are endemic to the Florida Keys which have undergone rapid human population growth and development over the past 30 years. Our study objectives were to evaluate the impacts of urban development on Key deer habitat use, population dynamics, behavior, and body mass. We used data from two comprehensive studies on Key deer spanning 30 years to evaluate these changes. Our results suggest that Key deer have become more urbanized, using urban areas more today than they did 30 years ago. Contrary to our predictions, survival was higher for more urban deer than for less urban deer.”Quote/Source: ScienceDirect: Biological ConservationVolume 134, Issue 3, January 2007, Pages 321-331
Big Pine Key Population (US Census)
1990
4,206
2000
5,032
Key Deer Population
1990
250 – 300
2000
700 -800
In comparing the Big Pine Key Population Census with the corresponding Key Deer Population counts, from 1990 to 2000 the human population has increased by only 817; while the number of Deer population has increased by 500 (nearly three fold).
With so many Key Deer on Big Pine Key and No Name Key, it is not hard to find one:
~When on No Name Key please keep to the main road (Watson), avoiding the residential roads. ~On Big Pine Key, the best viewing area is at the top of Big Pine; again, please stay on the main road (Key Deer Blvd). ~The best time to view the Key Deer is at dusk. ~Please Do Not feed the Key Deer; it is illegal and a $250.00 fine is associated with doing so. ~Feeding the Deer can not only cause illness and imbalances in their natural diet, it also encourages them to come close to cars; which may result in their death (by automobile). ~During the Spring and Summer months be especially careful as there may be a fawn following the female.
Drive with Caution!
The fawns are not wise to roads and cars; they have been known to run from one side to the other and then back again! The Speed Limit on No Name Key is 25 mph.
We hope you enjoy your visit to No Name Key and enjoy viewing our Key Deer.
~Please leave nothing behind but good will: Don’t Litter!
Webmasters Note: NoNameKey.org does not support any local or private Key Deer or Refuge "groups". The Key Deer have unfortunately been misused for local, political, and personal agendas. NoNameKey.org feels that only the appropriate organization, US Fish and Wildlife Services by the direction and authority provided to them through the Endangered Species Act, should weigh-in or direct when it comes the Key Deer herd, the National Wildlife Refuges, and best management practices.
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