Deer Management Plan: Hemlock Overlook Regional Park, Fairfax County Sean Campbell Craig Shafer Jessica Trice

Outline of Discussion ► Environmental and social impacts of deer overabundance ► Description of management area ► Management Plan:  Implementation  Monitoring and assessment  Brief budget and timeline

Proximal Causes of Deer Overabundance

Lyme Disease White-tailed deer appears to be the primary reservoir, but rodents have also been implicated Statistics: Since 1995, the number of Lyme disease cases reported in Fairfax County have risen and in 2007 there were 158 reported cases Loudoun County, which has a large deer population, has the highest per capita incidence of Lyme Disease cases reported in the commonwealth Suggests a strong upward trend in incidence where there are large populations of white-tailed deer

Vehicle Collisions Increased deer populations can become a safety hazard for drivers Virginia had the eighth highest total number of deer-vehicle collisions in the United States over the time period Statistics: During : 4,000- 5,000 deer vehicle collisions occurred resulting in an average property damage of $1,982 per vehicle That is around 9.9 million dollars/year

Ornamental Plant Damage ► Ornamental Plant damage is estimated to be over 1 million dollars annually in Fairfax County ► Planting less palatable plants has been ineffective

Biodiversity Impacts ► Lack of regeneration of canopy trees ► Altered forest shrub layer ► Diminished herbaceous plant species ► Diminished ground and shrub nesting bird species ► Diminished small mammal habitat

Hemlock Overlook ► 426 acres within 5,000 acres of Regional Parkland along the western border of Fairfax County ► Jointly operated with George Mason ► Thousands of acres of private land adjacent to the parkland

Field Observations ► Ample deer sign ► Current deer management:  Deer fence located on one property  Authorized for sharpshooting

Management Plan: Monitoring ► Monitoring deer populations  Spotlight and camera surveys ► Monitoring habitat  Exclosures ► Pre and Post Assessment

Management Plan: Implementation ► Herd Reduction  Recreational hunts  Sharpshooting

Management Plan: Implementation ► Education Program  Lectures  Education materials  Field Education

Budget and Timeline TimeActivity 2009 AugustExclosure areas erected 2009 SeptemberMonitoring using spotlight and infared camera surveys 2009 (and each year after) March – August Quota hunt applications due 2009 (and each year after) November – December Recreational Hunting on designated Tuesdays and Wednesdays 2010 (and each year after) January Sharp-shooting once a week at night by local police officers 2010 (6 months after hunts) July Spotlight survey 2010 (and each year after) Sept and May Survey exclosures for vegetation diversity and growth 2010 (and each year after) December Evaluate education program and send out additional education materials to community Everyday (starting in August 2009) Programs on deer biology/ecology and field experiences for schools as well as the community COSTS: Developing education classes/programs 25 hours/ 12$ hour = $300 Printing handouts/mailing pamphlets $350 Deer survey equipment: spotlights, cameras $500 Habitat surveying equipment: fences, ropes, stakes $300 Educational kiosk$100 Managing hunting days, deer surveys, education $12/hour – incorporated into manager’s job tasks TOTAL = $1900 INCOME: Quota Hunt Applications$10 each * 150 (estimated) = $1500 Park Hunt Passes$15 each * 30 hunter = $450 TOTAL = 1950

Questions??