Westchester Citizens Task Force on Whitetailed Deer

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Westchester Citizens Task Force on White-tailed
Deer Forest Regeneration

• Executive Summary

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Deer Task Force
Deer overpopulation highlighted during
Conversations in Conservation White-tails in
Westchester County held in November 2005 Deer
Task Force appointed February 2006
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Comprising representatives from
Governments New York state New York City
Westchester County Local municipalities
Environmental community organizations
Private citizens
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Mission
Study impact of deer on Westchesters natural and
human environment
Recommend strategies for dealing with population
in future
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Resources used

• Input from experts in deer management from other
  states
• Research by U.S. Forest Service
• Scientific research
• Case studies from programs in other states and
  locally from Mianus River Gorge Preserve and Town
  of Pound Ridge and Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
• Field visits to sites with deer enclosures where
  they cannot roam free vs. those where they can
• 1991 Westchester Study Committees White-tailed
  Deer Report

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Current Deer Population Results
Infrared aerial survey of deer showed

• Kensico Reservoir watershed density of 25 deer
  per square mile
• Ward Pound Ridge Reservation (Westchester largest
  park) density of 63 deer per square mile
• No forest regeneration in 91.5 of plots studied

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Task Force Concludes

• Ecologically viable levels for the reservation
  should be 5-10 deer per square mile.
• Deer population must be reduced accordingly.

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Local Success Story

• Deer hunting and culling have successfully
  reduced deer density on private Rockefeller lands
  for years and in the State Park Preserve area.

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Other methods ineffective

• Trap and transfer (currently illegal)
• Encouragement of predator species
• Immunocontraception and sterilization

• All proved to be
• impractical,
• expensive
• and unsuitable
• for large-scale use

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Conclusion
Immediate action required to combat

• Lack of forest regeneration
• Severe impact on biodiversity
• Threat to water quality
• Various other detrimental ecological impacts

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Four Urgent Recommendations

• Deer Management Monitoring

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• Public Education

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• Legislation and Funding

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• Establishment of Public-private Adaptive Deer
  Management Program

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I. Deer Management Monitoring
1. Deer Management Monitoring

• Allow recreational hunting and culling
• Change local and state laws to allow bow hunting
  in public and private areas, such as
• Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
• Muscoot Farm/Lasdon Park
• Mountain Lakes Park
• Blue Mountain Reservation
• Collect data and monitor effectiveness through
  surveys.
• Work with NYSDEC to determine long-range plan to
  promote biodiversity.
• Provide information to local governments and
  property owners to encourage deer population
  control.
• Continue to investigate and support development
  of non-lethal alternatives.

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2. Public Education

• Distribute Task Force report to the public,
  governments and private organizations.
• Organize a Deer Conference to present findings
  and management approaches.
• Implement public education program about deer in
  Westchester and the need for proactive human
  stewardship.
• Encourage dialogue with NYSDEC, hunters and land
  managers to meet management goals.
• Encourage development of Wildlife Management Plan
  concurrent with acquisition of open space.

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3. Legislation Public Funding

• Amend county/state law to allow bow hunting on
  park lands and other properties.
• Create funding sources for
• deer management program staff
• research
• non-county management activities

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4. Establish Adaptive Deer Management Program

• Create public-private management partnership with
  diverse group of stakeholders
• State and local governments
• NYSDEC and NYCDEP
• Wildlife experts environmental advocates
• Private organizations like sporting clubs
• Property owners

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4. Establish Adaptive Deer Management Program

• Collect data and formal and anecdotal input.
• Evaluate success of measures in place likely
  success of other measures.
• Encourage collection of deer population figures
  through air and land surveys.
• Broaden outreach on deer issues through public
  education and conferences.

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4. Establish Adaptive Deer Management Program

• Encourage public education to shape attitudes
  about impact of deer in Westchester
• Threaten gardens
• Cause automobile accidents
• Threaten forests, ecosystem and regeneration

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The end.