Chemosterilant implantation of captive animals to reduce reproduction has led to the consideration of this technique as a method to control deer herds in urban and park situations. The San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SFSPCA) proposed to implant a chemosterilant, melangestrol acetate (MGA) into 80-90% of the does on Angel Island. A lowered natality rate and subsequent reduction in total deer numbers were projected. After two months of effort, only 30 does (approximately 30%) had been implanted. Despite the sterilization effort, the projected 1985 population on the three hundred hectare island will be over 300 animals. The high cost and low capture success of the project cast doubt on the efficacy of the procedure as a wildlife management technique.
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