FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, September 17, 2013

Deer Hunt Proposed for Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Public Invited to Comment on Draft Environmental Assessment. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to allow a quota deer hunt which will include unlimited take of feral hogs on about 6,000 acres on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Titusville, Fla.

The public is invited to comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment of the proposed hunt. Comments received from the public scoping meeting on July 8, 2013 and the three-week comment period in July were incorporated into the Draft Environmental Assessment. This is another opportunity for the public to comment before the Final Environmental Assessment is developed.

The hunt area being proposed is north of Haulover canal on both sides of State Road 3 within the refuge boundary. While waterfowl hunting has been a traditional use on the refuge since the 1960’s, the proposal expands the hunting program to include deer and feral hogs. Feral hogs are a nuisance, invasive species on the refuge causing damage to roads, dikes, and trails and occasionally destroying sea turtle nests. Wildlife vehicle strikes are common along major roads on the refuge and half of strikes involve feral hogs. The proposed hunt will not eradicate or control feral hog populations, but will remove some animals and possibly lessen the amount of damage and vehicle strikes.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.