City of Fairfax: A Surgical Sterilization Project in Virginia
Fairfax City needed a solution to address landowner concerns about deer conflicts. They had considered archery hunting, but for a variety of reasons, the City Council voted against it. Local animal advocates from Humane Deer Management, Pets Limited and Wildlife Rescue Inc. stepped in and arranged a meeting with White Buffalo Inc. and the city administration. After much discussion, the City Council voted to permit our team to conduct sterilization research in the City of Fairfax, VA. We felt like it was an ideal project, the deer densities weren't too high, and it was a good model for stabilizing an existing herd. Over those five years, we developed a field method for deer sterilization and evaluated the local population impacts in several suburban areas, so it was great to have a new community to bring into the study.
Tega Cay, South Carolina: The Largest Deer Surgical Sterilization Project in the U.S.
Fast forward to Fall 2024, White Buffalo Inc. implemented the surgical sterilization component of a broader deer population management program in Tega Cay, South Carolina. This initiative, which also included sharpshooting, aimed to address the challenges of overabundant white-tailed deer in a suburban environment, such as deer-vehicle collisions and landscape damage. Over a two-week period, White Buffalo sterilized 201 female deer using advanced surgical techniques to ensure safety and efficacy. The estimated cost per sterilized deer was $1,337, reflecting the resources required for this humane and science-based approach. By combining sterilization with sharpshooting, the program seeks to achieve long-term population reduction through natural attrition and professional culling. This sterilization effort, the largest of its kind in the U.S., underscores White Buffalo’s commitment to developing tailored solutions that address ecological health and community needs.
Immunocontraceptive Vaccines vs. Surgical Sterilization
After more than two decades of research on immunocontraceptive vaccines, it has become apparent that it is very costly to treat animals on multiple occasions. At best, birth control vaccines need to be administered at least two times in an animal's life. Each capture costs more as the animals become increasingly savvy. The sterilization technique adds approximately 25% to the total cost of the initial capture, but an animal only needs to be handled once. This technique reduces overall program cost for a community and reduces stress on the animal by eliminating the need for recapture. While this solution may not be right for every community and situation, it is a method that has promise in a variety of areas and can be combined with other management approaches.
White Buffalo Inc. offers a variety of courses ranging from sterilization training and remote immobilization to capture and sharpshooting.
We have unparalleled experience across a variety of deer management techniques. White Buffalo Inc. can advise you on the best solution for your deer management concerns. We can help assess your situation, collaborate on potential solutions, and bring our expertise to bear to help ensure an optimal outcome.
sUAS (Drone) Deer Surveys: High‑Resolution Counts from New England to Hawaiʻi
In 2026, Tick Free MV contracted White Buffalo Inc. to conduct a nighttime drone survey of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, where concern over tick-borne diseases such as Lyme and Alpha-gal syndrome, a tick-induced red meat allergy, is closely linked to high deer densities. Covering almost 88 square miles, White Buffalo’s survey provided a detailed snapshot of the island’s deer population.
With the assistance of a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, we partnered with Island Conservation and Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) in 2024 to estimate axis deer and mouflon sheep density and distribution, and develop a monitoring program in the Kuahiwi a Kai program area on Lana’i, Hawaii for Pūlama Lana’i resource managers.
White Buffalo Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization that was established in 1996 and is dedicated to the conservation of native species and ecosystems. Our approach is unique, in that we generate funding for conservation research and education through our services -- wildlife management alternatives in non-traditional settings.
Quick Links: Our Background
Review our current business portfolio and the breadth of peer-reviewed publications supported by our work. We offer our services and support ongoing research to advance the wildlife discipline. Dr. DeNicola's resume and his background are extensive in this arena.
Here's a good primer on deer management from Dr. DeNicola: "Managing White-Tailed Deer in Suburban Environments."
Deer Management Presentation in Fairfax, VA
Discussion of the grant proposal for a non-lethal Deer Management Program, by Dr. Anthony DeNicola, CEO of White Buffalo Inc.