Deer Management Plan: Deer Management Plan: Hemlock Overlook Regional Park, Hemlock Overlook Regional Park,

Fairfax CountyFairfax County

Sean CampbellSean Campbell

Craig ShaferCraig Shafer

Jessica TriceJessica Trice

Outline of DiscussionOutline of Discussion

►Environmental and social impacts of Environmental and social impacts of deer overabundancedeer overabundance

►Description of management areaDescription of management area►Management Plan:Management Plan:

ImplementationImplementation Monitoring and assessmentMonitoring and assessment Brief budget and timelineBrief budget and timeline

Proximal Causes of Deer Proximal Causes of Deer OverabundanceOverabundance

Lyme DiseaseLyme 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 thehighest per capita incidence of Lyme Disease cases reported in the commonwealth

•Suggests a strong upward trend in incidence wherethere are large populations of white-tailed deer

Vehicle CollisionsVehicle 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 2007-08 time period

Statistics:•During 1998-1999: 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 DamageOrnamental Plant Damage

► Ornamental Plant damage is estimated to be Ornamental Plant damage is estimated to be over 1 million dollars annually in Fairfax over 1 million dollars annually in Fairfax CountyCounty

► Planting less palatable plants has been Planting less palatable plants has been ineffectiveineffective

Biodiversity ImpactsBiodiversity Impacts

► Lack of regeneration of Lack of regeneration of canopy treescanopy trees

► Altered forest shrub Altered forest shrub layerlayer

► Diminished herbaceous Diminished herbaceous plant speciesplant species

► Diminished ground and Diminished ground and shrub nesting bird shrub nesting bird speciesspecies

► Diminished small Diminished small mammal habitatmammal habitat

Hemlock OverlookHemlock Overlook

► 426 acres within 5,000 acres of Regional Parkland along the 426 acres within 5,000 acres of Regional Parkland along the western border of Fairfax Countywestern border of Fairfax County

► Jointly operated with George MasonJointly operated with George Mason► Thousands of acres of private land adjacent to the parklandThousands of acres of private land adjacent to the parkland

Field ObservationsField Observations► Ample deer sign Ample deer sign ► Current deer Current deer

management:management: Deer fence located Deer fence located

on one propertyon one property Authorized for Authorized for

sharpshooting sharpshooting

Management Plan: Management Plan: MonitoringMonitoring

► Monitoring deer Monitoring deer populationspopulations Spotlight and Spotlight and

camera surveyscamera surveys

► Monitoring habitatMonitoring habitat ExclosuresExclosures

► Pre and Post Pre and Post AssessmentAssessment

Management Plan: Management Plan: ImplementationImplementation

► Herd ReductionHerd Reduction Recreational huntsRecreational hunts SharpshootingSharpshooting

Management Plan: Management Plan: ImplementationImplementation

► Education ProgramEducation Program LecturesLectures Education materialsEducation materials Field EducationField Education

Budget and TimelineBudget and TimelineTime Activity2009 August Exclosure areas erected

2009 September Monitoring 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??Questions??