National park sites will address effort to bring down deer population, ease strain on forest land

An overpopulation of white-tailed deer in Southwestern Pennsylvania’s three national parks has had a detrimental effect on vegetation there, officials said.

They are hoping to enact a deer management plan that would involve culling part of the herd in an effort to allow native vegetation in forests and elsewhere around the parks a chance to regenerate, said Brenda Wasler, natural resource manager for the national parks of Western Pennsylvania.

“Historically, Pennsylvania’s deer population was regulated by larger predators, but the absence of these species and a regional decline in hunting by people has led to unchecked population growth,” she said. “Currently, deer populations exceed 70 deer per square mile in the parks, which is detrimental to the health of native vegetation and forest ecosystems.”

The deer management plan will address overpopulation at Flight 93 National Park in Somerset County and Friendship Hill National Historic Site and Fort Necessity National Battlefield in Fayette County. National Park Service officials will be presenting to the public the deer management plan at two locations this week:

• Tuesday, 6:30-8 p.m. at Flight 93 National Memorial Learning Center.

• Wednesday, 6:30-8 p.m. at Fort Necessity National Battlefield Visitor Center.

Wasler said the plan will outline a strategy to reduce the deer population enough that the forest is able to regenerate in one to three years after the plan is approved. That is typically possible with 15 to 20 deer per square mile, she said. The deer population will be maintained at that level in the future.

“To help manage the deer population in a safe and controlled manner, culling operations will be conducted by contracted professionals, typically after hours,” she said.

The planning process is expected to be completed next year. Implementation may be influenced by funding availability.

An overabundance of deer makes it hard for forests to stay healthy, because the animals typically eat native plants and young trees, which Wasler said can lead to invasive plants taking over. The National Park Service has identified deer-related issues at the three parks:

• The population is having a detrimental effect on efforts to establish and maintain the landscape at Flight 93 National Memorial, as is regeneration of the Hemlock Grove and reforesting elsewhere. The site honors the 40 people who were aboard United Airlines Flight 93 when they wrested control from hijackers on Sept. 11, 2001, and crashed the plane into a field.

• Reestablishment of a historic tree line at the Great Meadows at Fort Necessity is being affected, and the population is contributing to the prevalence of non-native and invasive species. The battlefield was host to the opening action in the French and Indian War in 1754 in Fayette County.

• The forest at Friendship Hill is being affected by deer, and the animals could inhibit efforts to reestablish a garden and orchard. The site is the restored country estate of Albert Gallatin in Fayette County. He played a large role in the country’s history.

Comments on the proposal will be accepted by the National Park Service until March 23. Comments can be submitted on the project website at parkplanning.nps.gov/wepa-deer or by mail to Superintendent, Fort Necessity National Battlefield, 1 Washington Parkway, Farmington, Pa. 15437.