Supplementalreportwithaddons 2

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