Supplementalreportwithaddons 2

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