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A 10-ft.-tall
fence, with automatic gates for our visitors to pass through,
was installed to protect the Preserve from deer damage.
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| Impact of Deer on Native Plants |
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White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) over-browsing
is putting pressure on our already stressed native plants.
More than 20 species of threatened and endangered wildflowers
are being further decimated by deer. Many woodlands now have
what is called a "browse line", caused by deer eating everything
from the ground to about 4 feet up. Deer are destroying the
shrub layer of our woodlands, where many birds nest. In places
where there are more than 20 deer per square mile, songbird
populations have declined. The deer eat seedling trees, leaving
no possibility for forest regeneration once today's mature
trees are gone. Forests that are over-browsed by deer are
more susceptible to invasion from non-native invasive plant
species, which deer do not readily eat. Pennsylvanians who
depend on timber or crop production for their livelihood are
spending upwards of $75 million a year dealing with deer damage.
Deer are destroying lands set aside as natural preserves.
As biodiversity dwindles, entire habitats become more vulnerable
to natural disasters and disease.
Like other natural areas, Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve
has experienced severe deer damage as well. About ten years
ago, a 10-foot-high fence was erected around 80 acres of the
Preserve in order to combat this problem. While the fence
is not completely deer-proof, it has substantially reduced
the amount of deer damage to our plants. To supplement the
fence, we hold occasional Deer Drives to "escort" out any
deer that have managed to get into the Preserve. You can volunteer
now to help on the Deer Drives.
There are no truly deer-resistant or deer-tolerant plants;
any plant when eaten repeatedly will eventually succumb. Deer
will eat ANYTHING if they are hungry enough. However, if deer
are a problem in your landscape and you're looking for recommended
native plants to try, consult our lists
of Deer Tolerant and Deer Resistant Native Plants . We've
compiled these lists based on existing lists and our observations
at the Preserve.
When you visit the Preserve, look for the exhibit on deer
in the Visitor
Center.
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