Supplementalreportwithaddons 2

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