Supplementalreportwithaddons 2

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