The Villages is a one thousand acre retirement community in the footthills of East San Jose.  It is nestled in a natural oak habitat that is home to many wildlife including deer. 

The physical layout of the community with its numerous man-made lakes and lush landscaping provides supplemental feeding opportunities for deer and other wildlife, that would otherwise have to forage greater distances to find sustenance in the sparsely vegetated and sometmes parched foothills.

After much public outcry and protest about the Villages' decision to lethally thin out the deer population in their gated community using bow and arrows, representatives of Little Blue Society met with the Management and Board of Directors in a private meeting Tuesday morning, July 31st.

An alternate solution to control the level of deer damage on the property and to naturally reduce their population over a period of several years was presented.

The Board members were quite receptive to the proposal.  They were pleased there were other intelligent, more ecologically sound alternatives available that would permanently resolve the conlict with deer at the Villages. 

A two day site evaluation was conducted at the Villages by the LBS Human-Animal Conflict Consultants on August 1-2, and a Program that provides both a short and long-term solution was designed and presented to the joint Boards. 

To date, the Villages have abandoned their plans to lethally remove the deer and is currently using non-lethal deterrents to minimize property damage.  See Articles:

San Jose Mercury News 7.25.07 - Deer Hunt
San Jose Mercury News 8.1.07 - Deer Hunt Cancelled

To have a program designed for your community and for us to address a specific concern with deer:  
Contact mary@littlebluesociety.org  or call us Toll Free at (866) 702-9290

 I would like to see this program expanded into other communities, where  lethal management programs are still being used. I support your efforts.