A Native Nuisance

While white-tailed deer are a native species in

Central New York their presence is damaging. Because of their high populations they are negatively affecting our forest ecosystems.

Woodland Lanscapers

Browse Line

Deer graze and can nearly clear the forest floor of native plant life. In areas of overpopulation, deer can create a horizontal browse line in the forest. A browse line is where deer strip trees, shrubs, and plants bare from overgrazing. The line can be up to six feet high when deer stand on their hind legs. Look around and see if you can notice the browse line.

Clearing the Way

Invasive species are also threatening the health of our forests. Not only do the deer clear the land for the invasive plants, but they also help their seeds grow. As deer trample the ground, they disturb and expose fresh soil. Invasive species like pale swallow-wort are first to recolonize the newly upturned soil. Native plants cannot compete with the reproductive swiftness of the invasive species. The deer then avoid eating pale swallow-wort because it contains toxins that are poisonous. This duo turns what was once a diverse ecosystem, into a monoculture.

A pair of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) grazing from a tree

Plant Protection
Here at Alverna Heights, deer exclosures have been installed to observe and assess the damage done by deer. These exclosures are fenced in areas of land that prevent deer from eating the plants inside. Over time, ecologists study the plant diversity within the exclosure compared to the plant diversity surrounding the exclosure. This is a good indication of the affects of overpopulated deer on forest health.
Forest floor when deer populations exist at natural levels Forest floor when deer are overpopulated
Image courtsey of Tom Hughes

Pale swallow-wort Image courtsey of Tom Hughes