A Portable Drop Net for Capturing Urban Deer

A free-standing, portable drop net was developed and used in the capture of 82 Florida Key deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium). The net was efficient, easy to set, inexpensive, and non-invasive (e.g., no blasting caps, no destruction of private property). Of 82 trapping attempts, 74 (90%) resulted in the capture of at least 1 deer, 3 (4%) resulted in net malfunction (e.g., net hung), and 5 (6%) resulted in deer escaping. The net can be used to trap deer and other animals in urban areas and can be effective in other areas where wildlife are susceptible to baiting.