Take Action      Support Audubon
Contact Us      Home

Wildlife & Science
  Counting Birds
  Helping Injured Wildlife
  Local Wildlife
  Managing for Wildlife
 
· Deer Management
· Important Bird Areas

Wildlife & Science > Managing for Wildlife >

Wildlife Science
Managing for Wildlife

Deer Management Program at Audubon Greenwich

White-tailed deer are a graceful and significant member of Connecticut’s wildlife. However, the lack of natural predators means that there are far more deer than the environment can sustain. At Audubon Greenwich, too many deer have caused widespread damage to the forest ecosystem. According to a study by Kenichi Shono, a Master’s degree candidate at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, deer are undermining the value of the sanctuary as a biological reserve for plants, birds, and animals by consuming more than 60 tons of vegetation each year. Reducing deer numbers will ensure the overall health and well being of the deer, as well as the sustainability of wildflowers, other herbaceous and shrub species, the native forest bird community, and healthy population levels of other wildlife. Successful implementation of the deer management plan will result in the maintenance of a healthier ecosystem, reduction of health risks from deer tick-borne diseases, and a decrease in the number of deer/vehicle accidents in the area.

To reduce the number of white-tailed deer and maintain the ecological health of our sanctuaries, Audubon Greenwich, in partnership with the Greenwich Sportsmen and Landowners Association (GSLA), recently concluded its fourth hunting season. The GSLA is a local bow hunters club that emphasizes training and ethical methods in all of its hunts. Its members must pass a special marksman proficiency test, as well as complete a formal application and interview for membership, before being permitted to hunt on Audubon land. Audubon selected bow hunting as the preferred hunting method to minimize safety concerns relating to hunting with rifles and shotguns. All meat from deer harvested on the property is donated to the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County. In addition to posting hunting signs at each entry point to the sanctuary, Audubon Greenwich notified all adjacent landowners of the hunt and the reasons for it. Hunting is restricted to the early morning hours, from dawn until 9AM.

Since November 2003, nearly 100 deer have been removed from Audubon sanctuaries (see Program Summary below), including 88 does and eight bucks. In the first year, hunters culled 30 deer from the main sanctuary. Subsequent years saw the expansion of the hunt to several other Audubon properties, including the 135-acre Fairchild Wildflower Garden. The number of deer culled each year has declined since the inception of the hunt, and hunters report seeing fewer deer on the sanctuaries.

YEAR

Number of Deer Culled

Properties Hunted

2003 – 2004

30

Main Sanctuary

2004 – 2005

25

Main Sanctuary, Fairchild Garden

2005 – 2006

19

Main Sanctuary and Fairchild Garden

2006 – 2007

22

Main Sanctuary, Fairchild Garden, Caldwell, Gimbel

Total

96

 

To monitor the effects of the deer management program, Audubon Greenwich staff will conduct a habitat analysis of the affected sanctuaries. By comparing the results of this analysis to data gathered over the past 40 years, Audubon Greenwich can determine how effective the deer hunt has been, and craft future plans and parameters for deer management on its lands.

 

Home | About Us | Programs | News & Issues | Get Involved | Support Audubon Greenwich | Wildlife & Science
About Audubon | Support Audubon | Take Action | Contact Us
Copyright by National Audubon Society, Inc. All rights reserved.