Dose determination and efficacy of remotely delivered norgestomet implants on contraception of white-tailed deer

Publication Type:
 Journal Article
Year of Publication:
 1997
Authors:
 Anthony J. DeNicola, Darrel J. Kesler, Robert K. Swihart
Publication/Journal:
 Zoo Biology
Publisher:
 A Wiley Company, Inc., Wiley Subscription Services
Keywords:
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ISBN:
 1098-2361
Abstract:

Abstract 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2361(1997)16:1<31::AID-ZOO5>3.3.CO;2-W Management of overabundant wildlife populations using contraceptives is being considered with increasing frequency in many localities. A wide array of effective contraceptives is needed to meet a variety of management objectives. Therefore, we evaluated the synthetic progestin norgestomet for its efficacy and its minimum effective dose in free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). We evaluated two doses of norgestomet implants (14 and 42 mg) at a site in southern Connecticut during 1992–1995. Four doses (14, 21, 28, 42 mg) of norgestomet implants were tested at a site in northern Indiana during 1993–1996. The effectiveness of norgestomet implants in preventing pregnancy was similar for the 42 mg (92%), 28 mg (100%), and 21 mg (100%) doses. There was a significant decline in efficacy using the 14 mg (48%) dose. It appears that 21 mg is approximately the lowest dose that consistently prevents reproduction in adult white-tailed deer of various sizes and ages. Norgestomet implants show promise as a highly effective contraceptive agent that is safe to treated animals and secondary consumers and simple to deliver remotely. Zoo Biol 16:31–37, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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