"Deer reduction ensures a healthy forest ... The return of the showy lady's slipper is indicative that the efforts to reduce the Presqu'ile Provincial Park [Brighton, Ontario] deer population is worth the efforts of Ontario Parks and the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte.
"This orchid showed up this past year that hasn't been seen in years," said Park Superintendent Tom Mates. "It was directly related to the deer overpopulation and its return shows the balance that is now starting to happen." Mates credits the loss of 70 per cent of Rondeau Provincial Park's mature tree population to overgrazing by white tailed deer, and insists that the annual deer herd reduction (DHR) at Presqu'ile is necessary to ensure that the forests are healthy. A partnership formed between the Mohawks and Ontario Parks sets its sights each year on reducing the white tailed deer population at Presqu'ile to what is considered a sustainable 35 deer. According to Mates, using a mathematical deer modelling system, the number of deer in the park as of December 2005 was estimated at 100, so the target number for this year's DHR will be 65" source / complete news item : http://www.communitypress-online.com/template.php?id=25916&RECORD_KEY(News)=id&id(News)=25916 *********** Regards, VB _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
