Whitetail Deer Impact on Wildlife Habitat: Project

Here in west Michigan we have a diverse wildlife community. Some species are plentiful here; others are not, depending upon how their habitat needs are met. Since we moved to Free Soil in the mid 70's some species have prospered like deer and others have waned like towhee, thrushes, grouse and woodcock. Since we've lived here the deer browse line has become more evident indicating destruction of the forest under story. This destruction is detrimental to the carrying capacity of wildlife that depends on the under story for feed and cover. The deer are more versatile than many other species in that they can adapt to life in farmers fields and in a pinch, people's yards and feeding stations that people set up for them. Even so large numbers of deer starve to death during a harsh winter when farmers are lucky enough to get all their crops harvested before winter. Since the ban on feeding deer has gone into effect this will put added pressure on forest under story and its inhabitants.

Four years ago I bought a largely open 20 acres that has been fallow for some years now on the southeast corner of the intersection of Custer and Fountain Roads. I am in the process of filling it up with under story wildlife habitat species with an emphasis on winter bearing fruit species. The 20 is perhaps 80% planted now on 2x3 foot spacing and the deer have been feeding on it with gusto. Deer beds have become a common sight as of last summer. Unfortunately I wasn't smart enough to get counts on deer bed densities before hand so I can't make a numerical comparison. I have monitored bird population and recorded it. So far there are only a few birds present that prefer field habitat. I suspect that this field would remain field in spite of my planting efforts except that I intended to fence half of it to circumvent the destruction of the plantings by the deer. I completed fencing the south half in the fall of 2008. I anticipate completing the planting in perhaps 2010. Some years down the line, I'll probably be forced to fence the north half if we expect to see it harbor anything but a few field dwelling birds in the summer time. In the winter it is largely a wildlife desert other than a couple pheasant that passed through once.

I hereby invite any who are interested in this project watch it along with me. I would be interested in any suggestions you might have and any wildlife counts that you would care to contribute to measure the progress of this project. I don't get down there as often as I should.

Mike Hradel
Cold Stream Farm
2030 Free Soil Rd.
Free Soil, Mi 49411
http://www.coldstreamfarm.net/