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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.

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.