Wildlife Management - Anchors Landing Homeowners Association, Inc. ANC

Wildlife in Anchors Landing

Anchors Landing is blessed with a wide variety of wildlife. Our wooded neighborhood provides a natural habitat and attracts all kinds of animals, some welcomed and others less so. As an association, it is our responsibility to manage the wildlife in our neighborhood to provide a balance between wildlife, our members, and their property. A comprehensive policy was approved in 2020. The full policy is available on the documents page.

The major tenants of the policy are:

Recreational hunting and trapping in Anchors Landing is prohibited. This includes community and private property
Management of wildlife through active means, such as culling, is the sole responsibility of the Board
Members are encouraged to undertake passive wildlife management measures, as necessary, such as planting animal-resistant plants and installing approved fencing to protect gardens and vegetation
Feeding of wildlife that may be subject to culling is prohibited

Anchors Landing Deer Management

Deer are arguably the most prominent wildlife feature in Anchors Landing and we intend to keep it that way. In 2019, the Board solicited the help of the North Carolina Wildlife Commission to ensure that we have a healthy herd. The Commission proposed a three-year study of the Anchors Landing deer population. The proposal can be found on the document page

The first year, six deer were taken and sent to the University of Georgia for detailed examination and study to determine their health status. The report that resulted became available in June 2021 and found that the overall status of the deer in Anchors Landing would be rated as "Fair". The entire report can be found on the documents page. In December 2020, NC Wildlife Commission personnel conducting deer culling activities in the neighborhood identified an Asian Longhorn Tick. This was one of the first ticks of this variety to be identified in Caldwell County. For more information, you can read the NC Extension fact sheet on the documents page.

Minimizing Deer Damage

As our community continues to grow, we expect to see more deer moving in. While this may seem counter-intuitive, keep in mind that there is very limited food resources in a pine forest. However, as houses are built, lots of landscaping is planted, which often includes a veritable buffet for deer! There are some great sources of information regarding how to minimize damage by deer, including deer-resistant plants, on the documents page.

See:

NC State Extension website: Minimizing Deer Damage in NC
NC State Extention article: Deer Resistant Plants