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ervation 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 2022, but had to be cancelled before implementation due to the global coronavirus epidemic. The Approval Process Authority for the conduct of a deer management program of the type conducted in Essex County's parks since 2008 lies with the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, upon approval by the New Jersey Fish and Game Council. The Fish and Game Council, in January of 1994, adopted a program entitled the Community-Based Plan for the Management of Suburban Deer Populations. That program set forth optional methodology for deer reduction in areas where traditional hunting is not possible due to concerns for safety or public acceptance. 6

There was again a large number of antlered deer harvested. Of the 75 total males, 49% (3 7 deer) were antlered, similar to the 48% in 2020 and 49% in 2019, but greatly more than the 23% in 2018. Another 26 males had shed their antlers, and 12 were button bucks (fawns). • At South Mountain Reservation, 25 of the 93 total deer killed (27%) were male or female fawns, which was a slight decrease from the 30%. And at the Hilltop Property, 9 of the 59 total deer harvested (15%) were in that age category, a huge drop from the 58% in 2020 and even the 37% ratio in 2019. Program Costs Direct costs to the County of Essex for the operation of the Essex County Deer Management Program in 2023 were as follows: Personnel overtime Park Maintenance Sheriffs Department $ 40,121.42 22,324.08 Contracted services Wildlife Management Consultant Butchering fees 11,000.00 14,345.00 Expendable materials & durable equipment Bait (whole corn) Food Ammunition Baiting & processing equipment 2,000.00 6,520.00 1,300.00 3,199.72 Newspaper advertisements Postcard printing & mailing 865.87 7,909.11 109,585.20 TOT AL program costs As shown, the total direct program costs amounted to $109,585.20. With 152 deer having been removed, this expense equates to a cost of $720.96 per deer. Over the 14 seasons of hunting conducted since 2008, costs have ranged from a low of $412 per deer (2008) to a high of $1,044.58 (2020), with an average of $642.26 per deer. Generally the cost per deer is proportionate to the total number of deer culled, as the fixed costs get spread out over more or less total deer harvested (see Appendix G). 20

The County of Essex again implemented all reasonable measures to ensure that this effort would be conducted in a manner that would be as safe and humane as possible, and that the general public would be well informed and inconvenienced as little as possible. Some of those measures could be scaled back in subsequent years, thereby resulting in a lower cost per deer. Post-hunt, the County of Essex County contracted with Raritan Valley Community College to conduct an infrared census of deer in South Mountain Reservation from a drone. They also engaged Ecological Solutions, LLC, at a cost of %5,815 to conduct a forest health study. Both surveys are essential to assessing the current deer density, its impact on the forest ecology, and the level of success achieved in forest regeneration. Analysis The 2023 season was the 14th year of the Essex County Deer Management Program. The average harvest across that span is 137 deer. The 152 total of deer harvested this year was the mean for those years, and only 15 deer (11 %) higher than the average. In 2019, 200 deer were harvested. That was the second highest total of all seasons to date. In 2020, the total dropped to 92, which was not unexpected considering that the population had been greatly impacted the prior year. Hunting did not occur in 2021 and 2022, enabling the population to grow with little restriction. So, it is understandable that the harvest jumped to 152 in 2023. Subsequent Census Data Spotlight counts are conducted each year in April in South Mountain, Eagle Rock and Hilltop Reservations to determine post-hunt deer population estimates. In 2023, the County of Essex also contracted with Raritan Valley Community College to conduct a deer population survey of South Mountain Reservation using drone-mounted infrared photography. The Deer Population Estimator found in Appendix H has been used in the past to predict the overwintering population of deer in each park by starting with the spotlight count or drone survey results and applying formulas which account for estimated new births and non-hunt mortality. The estimated overwintering population then suggests the number of hunters to be recruited and the number of days to conduct hunting in order to reduce the deer density to population levels that minimize deer impacts. Based on 2023 harvest results, the Estimator assumes that 53% of the deer population

ber of days to conduct hunting in order to reduce the deer density to population levels that minimize deer impacts. Based on 2023 harvest results, the Estimator assumes that 53% of the deer population in South Mountain and 48% in Hilltop are female. It also assumes that 68% of the females are pregnant, and that the pregnant females will deliver an average of 1.69 offspring each. The number of deer will be reduced by 15% to account for loss to natural or accidental mortality. 21

Recommendations The results of the 2023 deer management program show that the populations of deer in South Mountain Reservation and Hilltop Reservation are greatly reduced since deer management activities were first undertaken in 2008. However, those populations, especially in the Hilltop Reservation, are still considerably higher than they should be. Forest ecologists recommend a deer density no greater than 20 deer per square mile in a healthy forest ecosystem. In a forest that is damaged by overbrowsing by deer, as is certainly the case at South Mountain and Hilltop Reservations, the density should be reduced to 10 deer per square mile or lower in order for forest regeneration to succeed. For South Mountain Reservation, the Deer Population Estimator calculates an overwintering population for 2023-24 of 134 deer (42 per square mile), which is 70 deer more than the recommended population of 64 deer (20/square mile x 3 .2 square miles) for this park, if this park had a healthy ecosystem. At the 10 deer/square mile density recommended for an impaired ecosystem, there is an excess of 102 deer. Essex County has invested considerable resources to establish 41 fenced enclosures throughout South Mountain Reservation, in which native plantings have been installed to jumpstart the forest's recovery from the impacts of deer. In theory, as the deer population is incrementally decreased in size by the deer management program, the native plantings will have an increasing chance ofrepopulating themselves as they spread their seed beyond the fenced enclosures. Therefore, reduction of the deer population in South Mountain Reservation should be continued. It is recommended that hunting occur at 14 baited sites, over the course of 5 days, with a goal of removing 102 deer. Based on past experience, hunting should be limited to afternoon shifts only. The drone-mounted infrared survey of South Mountain Reservation showed higher densities of deer in some sections of the park versus other. That data should be correlated with the actual yields from the various baited sites when selecting bait sites for 2024. The estimated 2023-24 overwintering population of deer for the Hilltop Property will be 84 deer (190/sq. mi.), or 80 deer more than the 4 deer recommended for this 0.44 square mile area. Therefore, the effort at the Hilltop Property should be continued in earnest. The

op Property will be 84 deer (190/sq. mi.), or 80 deer more than the 4 deer recommended for this 0.44 square mile area. Therefore, the effort at the Hilltop Property should be continued in earnest. The extremely high density in and around the Hilltop Property needs to be cut drastically for the safety and welfare of park neighbors and the motoring public. Hunting should occur on 7 afternoons, at 8 baited sites, with a goal of removing 80 deer. The schedule for hunting in 20241 should follow the same basic schedule as in 2023, hunting South Mountain Reservation on Tuesdays and Hilltop Reservation on Thursdays. However, at South Mountain there would be 5 afternoons of hunting, starting January 16, with 2 possible rain dates. There should be 7 afternoons of hunting at Hilltop Reservation, starting January 11, with 1 possible rain date. The rain dates would not extend beyond February 29. There will be no 22

conflicts with holidays. The 2023-24 overwintering population at Eagle Rock will be 44 deer, which is 37 more than the recommended population of 7 deer for this 0.68 square mile park. However, the spotlight counts since 2018 saw such small numbers of deer that the validity of these numbers is questionable. I am hesitant to recommend a commitment of money and manpower to securing the park and hunting until we have better population data. Though an infrared drone survey scheduled in 2023 had to be cancelled due to an early leaf-out, it is hoped that one can be accomplished in 2024. Infrared drone surveys should be conducted as soon as possible after the 2024 deer removal concludes. They are more reliable than spotlight counts, and important to determining the success of each harvest and in guiding continued deer removal efforts. Acknowledgments Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo is to be commended for continuing the Essex County Deer Management Program in two of Essex County's most significant park properties. He recognizes the perilous future of the ecology of these irreplaceable park resources and is fighting to correct it in the most efficient and effective method possible, despite the objections of some County residents. The Essex County Board of County Commissioners showed that they share the County Executive's concern by voting to allow this program to continue. The success of the Essex County Deer Management Program is due to the hard work, commitment and cooperation of hundreds of people. Thanks are extended to the staff of the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, and in particular its Director, Daniel Salvante, and Tara Casella, Environmental Center Director; the Essex County Sheriffs Department, and in particular Sheriff Armando Fontoura and Sergeant Matthew Krug; and the numerous other Essex County and municipal agencies and offices that contributed to this effort. The County of Essex extends its thanks to Jodi Powers, Senior Biologist with the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, for her assistance in the conduct of this program. The residents of Essex County again owe a great deal of thanks to the hunters who took time away from their families, jobs, and their own personal pursuits to serve voluntarily in a program that is saving the ecology of parks in the Essex County Park System for the enjoyment

rs who took time away from their families, jobs, and their own personal pursuits to serve voluntarily in a program that is saving the ecology of parks in the Essex County Park System for the enjoyment and benefit of future generations of County residents and visitors. 23

Appendix A COUNTY OF ESSEX Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS 115 CLIFTON AVENUE NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 07104 Phone: 973-268-3500 Fax: 973-481-5302 www.essexcountyni.org Daniel K. Salvante County Executive Director 2023 DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY Adopted - August 3, 2022 PROGRAM GUIDELINES INTRODUCTION • The South Mountain Reservation encompasses 2047 acres (3.2 square miles) in the Townships of Maplewood, Millburn and West Orange. • The Hilltop Reservation spans over 200 acres (0.33 square mile) in the Borough of North Caldwell and the Townships of Cedar Grove and Verona. • Forest ecologists recommend that white-tailed deer populations in Northeast hardwood forests should not exceed a 1O deer per square mile in order to support biodiversity and ecosystem structure and function. • Browse damage, damage to residential landscaping and the numbers of deer-related motor vehicle accidents indicate that white-tailed deer populations in South Mountain Reservation and the Hilltop Reservation far exceed the recommended density. • Out of concern for the long-term health of the environment in its largest park properties, the County of Essex began in 2008 to reduce the density of deer. • Achieving the goal density would curtail over-browsing of native vegetation and allow forest regeneration, minimize browsing of residential landscaping surrounding the County properties, and minimize the incidence of deer-related motor vehicle accidents. • The County of Essex undertook programs in 2008 through 2020, with the assistance of community-minded licensed hunters with a proficiency in marksmanship, to reduce the population of deer in the South Mountain Reservation, Eagle Rock Reservation and the Hilltop Reservation. A total of 1,774 deer were removed as a result of those efforts. • In 2023, the County of Essex will continue to reduce the number of deer in the South Mountain Reservation and the Hilltop Reservation. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM • The County of Essex will continue to reduce the size of the South Mountain Reservation deer herd over the course of six (6) half days (afternoons) in January and February, 2023. • The County of Essex will continue the removal of deer from the Hilltop Reservation over the course of six (6) half days (afternoons) in January, February and March, 2023. • Such removal

ruary, 2023. • The County of Essex will continue the removal of deer from the Hilltop Reservation over the course of six (6) half days (afternoons) in January, February and March, 2023. • Such removal will again be accomplished through the efforts of selected agents, shooting over baited sites. • 14 agents will be selected from among experienced, licensed hunters who can demonstrate a proficiency in marksmanship and some of whom participated in the previous deer management programs conducted in Essex County in 2008 through 2020. • Agents will take part in this program on a voluntary basis. • This program is designed to address a problem of population control; it is not intended to provide sport or recreational opportunities. Putting Essex County First ESSEX COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Page 1 of 3