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Chart 3: Histogram displaying number of trees in four-inch DBH categories (0”-3.9”, 4”7.9”, 8”-11.9”, etc.). 4 Walter E. Foran Blvd. Suite 209■Flemington, NJ 08822■908.788.9676■fax 908.788.6788■mail@amygreene.com■www.amygreene.com Pennsylvania Office: P.O. Box 551, New Cumberland, PA 17070 ■ 717.525.8162

FINAL REPORT 2023 DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY SOUTH MOUNTAIN RESERVATION HILLTOP RESERVATION Prepared for Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., Essex County Executive, the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and Daniel K. Salvante, Director, Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs by Daniel J. Bernier Wildlife Management Consultant June 20, 2023

Table of Contents Background Page 3 The Program Expands Page 6 The Approval Process Page 6 The Planning Process Page 7 Public Notification Page 8 Selection and Qualification of Agents Page 8 Program Preparation Page 9 Program Administration and Operational Details Page 10 The Processing Operation Page 12 Program Security Page 12 Weather Page 13 Results Page 13 Disposition of Venison Page 13 Agent Participation Page 14 Ballistics Data Page 16 Critical Losses Page 16 Baiting Station Productivity Page 17 Deer Data Page 19 Program Costs Page 20 Analysis Page 21 Subsequent Census Data Page 21 Recommendations Page 22 Acknowledgements Page 23

Background In 1896, a year after the formation of the Essex County Park System, John Durand described the mountain that includes South Mountain Reservation as "a wilderness, as it probably existed at the time of Henrick Hudson, a primitive forest abounding with deer and other wild animals, and traversed by streams alive with trout. Game was plentiful - partridges, quail, woodcock, rabbits, squirrels of every species, raccoons and foxes." Today, the County of Essex, like many governmental entities in New Jersey, finds that deer abound in much greater numbers than the other wild animals. In several of its large tracts of parkland and open space, the County sees the problems typically associated with an overpopulation of white-tailed deer: o Vegetation in tracts of public open space is being over-browsed, resulting in a loss of vegetative biodiversity; o Loss of vegetation due to over-browsing is forcing a decline in the number of animal species, particularly songbirds and small mammals, that depend on the herbaceous and shrub layers of the forest and fields for food and cover; o Over-browsing of native tree seedlings is precluding growth of new trees, altering the age structure of forested areas and stopping the ability of the forest to regenerate as older trees are lost; o Loss of vegetation is decreasing the ability of forested areas to retain rainwater, increasing the rate and volume of storm water runoff to streams and rivers, exacerbating erosion and flooding problems; o Loss of native vegetation is enabling an incursion of invasive exotic plants, which outcompete native species, and provide little or no benefit to native wildlife; o Trees and shrubs in the surrounding residential areas are being heavily browsed, resulting in huge financial losses for area residents, landscapers and nurseries; o Deer-related motor vehicle accidents result in personal injury, significant property damage, and mortality or injury of many deer, and could lead to loss of human life; o The fear of Lyme Disease diminishes enjoyment of the out-of-doors for many people, both in public open space and in their own yards; and o Destruction of garden plants and the ubiquitous presence of deer droppings hinder the ability of homeowners to enjoy use of their own yards for gardening and recreating. Officials of the County of Essex, including its Department of Parks, Recreation and

nce of deer droppings hinder the ability of homeowners to enjoy use of their own yards for gardening and recreating. Officials of the County of Essex, including its Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, have been concerned for almost three decades with the dense population of white-tailed deer in the South Mountain Reservation, and the resultant effect on forest ecology and the surrounding community. Hearings organized by Freeholder Chairman (now County Executive) Joseph DiVincenzo in the mid 1990's brought out residents complaining of the usual problems associated with high deer density in large tracts of public land surrounded by suburbia residential landscaping damage, deer-related motor vehicle accidents, fear of Lyme Disease, and the inability of homeowners to enjoy use of their own yards. 3

Parks Department staff were particularly alarmed by the impact of overbrowsing of deer on the South Mountain Reservation, where the understory had been eaten away from most of the 2,047acre park and the survival of plant and other animal communities was seriously threatened. In more recent years, expressions of concern for the forest ecology have been echoed by the South Mountain Conservancy and New Jersey Audubon. In March, 2006, the County of Essex received a Landscape and Infrastructure Assessment and Restoration Management Plan for the South Mountain Reservation, prepared by Professional Planning and Engineering Corporation (PPE). Recommendations for management of deer presented in that plan were based on a Deer Management Report issued by The Louis Berger Group, Inc. in November, 2005. Louis Berger and PPE noted that deer populations had been browsing on the understory of the forest at levels that were changing the vegetative species composition and disrupting the natural landscape. In addition, deer impacts were affecting the visitor's visual experience and the historic and scenic value of many areas in the largest park in the oldest County park system in the United States. The impact of the high deer population on the forest ecology in South Mountain Reservation was most evident at the herbaceous and shrub layers of the understory. Tree seedlings, forbs, wildflowers, shrubs and even an accumulation of leaf litter had largely disappeared. The future effect on the forest was foretold as the tree canopy was thinning in some areas and not being replaced due to a lack of seedlings and saplings. About 80% of the 2,047-acre park is forested. More than 75% of that area consists of an evenly aged stand of trees with low species diversity and minimal understory. The early successional habitat found in seedlings and saplings stands has been eliminated by deer overbrowsing, which precludes the possibility of forest regeneration. In some areas, the lack of an understory has allowed the incursion of huge quantities of invasive plants, which deer won't eat and which provide little or no food or shelter resources to other wildlife. Massive stands of Japanese knotweed are prevalent along many of the roads and at the edges of meadows and activity areas. Japanese stiltgrass covers acres of the forest floor. A survey of vegetation species found throughout South Mountain

e prevalent along many of the roads and at the edges of meadows and activity areas. Japanese stiltgrass covers acres of the forest floor. A survey of vegetation species found throughout South Mountain Reservation as part of the PPE study identified 98 different tree, shrub and herbaceous species. Eleven of those species are invasive plants not native to North America. The loss of vegetation due to overbrowsing by deer was leading to an increase in erosion and a decline in stream and lake water quality. Slope areas and hiking trails that were most badly eroded were in areas where the herbaceous layer of the forest had been stripped away. Instead of rainwater seeping into the porous ground of a healthy forest, thereby filtering pollutants and assimilating nutrients, the water was running quickly over the hardened slopes, washing soil with it and causing a decrease in water quality in the park's streams. 4

As a first step in trying to deal with the burgeoning deer population, the County of Essex looked at the feasibility of instituting a deer management program in the South Mountain Reservation. The County hoped to draw upon the experience of its neighbor, the County of Union, which successfully addressed similar issues in its 2,143-acre Watchung Reservation. The Watchung Reservation is similar to South Mountain Reservation in terms of size, ecology, and topography. Implementation of a deer management program there in 1995 achieved a reduction of deer density from 180/square mile to 35/square mile in just four years, and now is maintaining the population at about 30/square mile (though still trying to go lower). Impacts on the Watchung Reservation have been greatly reduced and signs of regeneration are found throughout the forest. Essex County officials felt that lessons learned during and since the reduction phase of the Watchung Reservation program could be applied to efforts in South Mountain Reservation, and could be expected to achieve deer population reduction with greater efficiency of time and manpower. County Executive DiVincenzo recruited Daniel J. Bernier, a wildlife management consultant, in mid-2007 to design, permit, prepare and implement a deer management program for South Mountain Reservation. As Director of the Union County Division of Park Environmental Services, Bernier had administered the Watchung Reservation Deer Management Program since its inception in 1995. Numerous meetings were held between the wildlife management consultant, Essex County officials and staff, municipal officials, and representatives of several law enforcement agencies. A set of Program Guidelines was developed that almost replicated the plan successfully used to remove deer by selected agents from the Watchung Reservation. All elements of the shooting program were crafted and carefully reviewed to ensure that deer would be removed in a manner that was safe for program participants, park users, and park neighbors, while at the same time being humane in its treatment of the deer. Essex County set its initial goal at reducing the deer population to the 20 deer per square mile goal density that had typically been recommended for fostering a forest's ability to regenerate. That density equates to a targeted population size of about 64 deer in the park. Based on Forward

mile goal density that had typically been recommended for fostering a forest's ability to regenerate. That density equates to a targeted population size of about 64 deer in the park. Based on Forward Looking Infrared censuses of deer conducted between 1999 and 2005, it was estimated that achieving that density would require the removal of at least 250 deer. After the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife issued a Special Deer Management Permit, shooting activity began in January, 2008. When the program ended in late February, after 8 ½ days of operation, 213 deer had been harvested from the South Mountain Reservation. Similarly, in January and February of 2009, 83 deer were removed over the course of 9 days of hunting. 5

The Program Expands In light of the considerable success achieved in reducing the deer density in South Mountain Reservation in just the first 2 years, County Executive DiVincenzo looked toward beginning to tackle the deer problem in other areas of the Essex County Park System. Two park properties where deer impacts were noticeable and complaints from the surrounding communities were high are Eagle Rock Reservation and the Hilltop Property. Wildlife Management Consultant Bernier developed population density estimates that, in turn, guided the establishment of goals for removing 50 deer from South Mountain Reservation, 75 deer from Eagle Rock Reservation and 50 deer from the Hilltop Property in the 2010 season. Because of a disparity in the number of deer killed on afternoon shifts versus morning shifts in 2009, it was recommended that hunting at South Mountain Reservation only be conducted in the afternoons in 2010. In 6 half-day shifts, another 44 deer were removed from the park. Remarkably, in 3 ½ full days of hunting, only 19 deer were removed from Eagle Rock Reservation. However, an incredible 97 deer were taken out of the Hilltop Property in that same time period. Since 2010, goals have been set annually based on population density estimates. The length of the hunting program for South Mountain Reservation has varied from as short as 3 half-days to as long as 4.5 full days. Anywhere from 31 deer to 101 deer have been harvested in each of those years. At Hilltop Reservation, the harvest has varied from 39 deer to 120 deer in seasons that ranged from 4 half-days to 7 full days. At Eagle Rock Reservation, between 19 and 23 deer were removed annually in seasons that lasted from 3 ½ days to 7 half-days. In 2013, no hunting was planned for Eagle Rock, as the deer population estimate at that time was lower than the amount that could be efficiently removed in terms of cost and manpower. Hunting has not returned to Eagle Rock Reservation since then, as the deer population has been too low to warrant the expense of a hunting program. In 2019, 6 half-days of hunting yielded 101 deer from South Mountain Reservation. Ninety-nine deer were taken out of the Hilltop Reservation in another 6 half-days. In a similar schedule in 2020, 37 deer were removed from South Mountain Reservation and 55 from Hilltop Reservation. Deer management programs were planned for 2021 and