|
Nov. 27, 2000 For more information contact Brandywine Creek State Park Administrator Dwight Anttila at 302-577-3534 or Rob Hossler, Division of Fish and Wildlife regional biologist, at 302-834-8434. Controlled Deer Hunt Set for Brandywine Creek State ParkBrandywine Creek State Park in northern New Castle County will be closed to the general public on Dec. 12, 13 and 14 for a controlled deer hunt managed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife. The hunt will be conducted from deer stands and will encompass both sides of the park. The hunt has been held annually since 1994 to keep the number of whitetail deer on the 1,000-acre park at a manageable level and curb the serious habitat damage being caused by the foraging animals. Hunting is not otherwise permitted in the park. Sixty-three hunters and 63 alternates were selected by lottery. Twenty-one will participate each day. They may shoot more than one deer each, but must take an antlerless deer first to help meet the goal of controlling the deer population. Each hunter can keep only one deer. Others will be donated to Sportsmen Against Hunger, which provides venison to food banks throughout the state. "We don't want to eliminate the deer," says Park Superintendent Dwight Anttila. "They are a beautiful addition to the park and an integral part of the ecosystem. But we need to keep the numbers in check to prevent them from destroying the vegetation, reducing the biodiversity, transporting the tick that bears Lyme disease, and colliding with cars." Deer damage most often shows up in the steady decline of vegetation. "When they are hungry, they eat pretty much anything, from saplings and tree limbs to tasty ornamental shrubs," according to Anttila. "With natural predation of whitetails a thing of the past in this region, the most effective means of culling an urban herd, like the one at Brandywine Creek State Park, is with controlled hunts,"adds Division of Fish and Wildlife biologist Rob Hossler. "In terms of population dynamics, we know it works." Two hundred deer have been harvested in the six years controlled hunts have been held at the park. A deer-proof fence around a small area of the park is planned for next spring to see if vegetation will recover without the deer impact. For more information on the management hunt, call the Brandywine Creek State Park office at 302-577-3534 or the Division of Fish and Wildlife Augustine field office at 302-834-8433. -30- Document No. 40-01/00/11/12 |
|
Want your news hot off the press? Sign up for the Press Releases List from the DNREC Online Email Lists. DNREC Environmental Release Notification System | DNREC Online
Home | Divisions | Job
Postings | Privacy | Translate | © 2002 Delaware Department of Comments? E-mail the Webmaster |