Big Cypress National Preserve, FL (AP) - Wildlife officials
are calling off this fall and winter deer hunting season on 100,000
acres in the Big Cypress National Preserve due to a dramatic
decline in the size of the deer herd.
The National Park Service has been keeping a watchful eye on the
decline in the preserve's southernmost region. The area is known as
the Stairsteps Unit for its jagged shared boundary with Everglades
National Park south of U.S. 41.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is
responding by calling off the hunting seasons for certain parts of
the park. Deer season is open, though, to other parts of the
729,000-acre preserve.
A task force will try to find out the reason for the decline.
Theories include high water levels, disease and predators with an
upper hand.

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