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Abstract
Browsing by large deer herds has seriously impaired successful regeneration on some Connecticut forests. Six plots were established in 1990 to examine the effectiveness of 5 deer browsing protection devices for 5 tree species. Protective devices included plastic mesh sleeves (60-cm), Reemay (spunbonded polypropylene) sleeves (60-cm), Tubex tree shelters (120 and 180-cm), and Corrulite tree shelters (120-cm) to be compared to unprotected controls. Species included eastern white pine, eastern hemlock, Norway spruce, northern red oak, and black walnut. After 3 growing seasons, seedlings within tree shelters were significantly taller than seedlings protected by plastic mesh and Reemay sleeves, except for eastern hemlock. Tree shelters stimulated growth of hardwood seedlings more than conifer seedlings. Mortality was lower for seedlings protected by tree shelters than for other treatments. Unprotected black walnut seedlings were actually shorter after 3 yr than when planted because of browsing. The Reemay sleeves and plastic mesh were not durable; most were damaged by weather or animals. The mesh caps placed over tree shelters to prevent bird mortality distorted many trees emerging from tree shelters. Browse damage was observed on trees growing out of 120-cm tree shelters.
Parent Publication
Citation
Ward, Jeffrey S.; Stephens, George R. 1995. Protection of tree seedlings from deer browsing. In: Gottschalk, Kurt W.; Fosbroke, Sandra L. C., ed. Proceedings, 10th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; 1995 March 5-8; Morgantown, WV.: Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-197. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 507-514
