Deer Immunocontraception

Deer Immunocontraceptive Working Group
Meeting Summary and Products
March 2007

To download a complete report on deer immunocontraception, click here.

The development of fertility control products for white-tailed deer has been ongoing for many years. Recently, the federal oversight and registration for fertility control agents for wildlife and feral animals was moved from the FDA to the EPA. As such, there are different standards that need to be met for the registration and broad-based use of immunocontraceptive agents. USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services has made significant advancement in the development of a single dose agent that appears to have high levels of efficacy in the last 3–4 years.  In addition, a new adjuvant (i.e. a compound added to the drug to enhance its efficacy) is being used which does not have the undesirable effects previous adjuvants have possessed.

The Human-Wildlife Conflict Working Group under the direction of the Wildlife Resource Policy Committee was asked to work with USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services and bring recommendations to the Association at the North American Conference in March 2007.  The Human-Wildlife Conflict Working Group was authorized to establish a smaller task group to focus on this assignment.  A report was written by the working group that  brings together recommendations, best management practices, a s ummary of the Deer Immunocontraceptive Preparedness Survey 2007, model statute or regulations for fertility control, example of draft legislation or rule regulating fertility control of wildlife, and label language to serve as a resource to state wildlife agencies.  This report was sent out to all state directors in March. 

USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services was very clear that they did not see this technology as a replacement for hunting in managing cervid populations but a tool that could potentially be used after a population has been reduced through traditional methods. While no final decision has been made regarding the registration or use of this product, USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services scientists anticipate that Gonacon™ will be registered as a "Restricted Use" product, for use by state or federal wildlife or natural resource management personnel or persons working under their authority. Gonacon™ users will also need to follow state authorization processes.