Projects

Managing Wildlife in the Farm Landscape

The Center for Wildlife Damage Control seeks a balance between conflicting needs of animals and people. Wildlife damage can reduce property values and increase insurance costs. Overpopulation can threaten the very environments some animals need to survive. Research on small mammals, deer management and non-migratory Canada Geese combines scientific inquiry with a realistic emphasis on solving the problem.

The Center's activities have included:

• aerial infrared deer counts
• 2,100 New Jersey farmer surveys of agricultural crop damage
• evaluation of deer repellents
• evaluation of deer fencing
• developed specifications for New Jersey legislature to purchase 1.2 million feet (1998 - 800,000 ft. and 2005 - 400,00 ft.) of deer exclusion fence for New Jersey farmers
• conducted community-based deer management presentations across the state of New Jersey
• published and distributed a community-based Canada Goose Management Guide
• in 2005, in cooperation with deer exclusion manufacturer Bekeart, conducted two deer fence construction workshops for farmers
• provide speakers upon request to prevent deer damage to social and community groups

More information is available from the Deer and People in New Jersey website at: http://www.deer.rutgers.edu/