Deer
Increasing white-tailed deer populations have become a concern to land owners in southwestern CT, as they opportunistically feed on garden plants and showy woodland herbs. In 1998, Highstead erected a 1 acre deer exclosure as part of its Woodland Demonstration Project , to showcase the long-term effects of deer on native herbs and tree seedlings. Results indicate that heavy deer browse is reducing regeneration of trees and diversity of wildflowers within its woodlands. In 2007, we erected a 2nd deer exclosure and began collecting data on the impacts of deer to forest regeneration across 8 towns in southwestern CT as part of our Ecological Studies Program.
For more information on how to protect your landscape from deer browsing, refer to http://www.ecostudies.org/gardening_tips.html
Learn more about Redding's deer management program
Invasive Plants
A suite of ornamental shrubs (e.g. Japanese Barberry, Multi-flora Rose, Winged Euonymous, Oriental Bittersweet, Honeysuckles) and a few herbs (e.g. Garlic Mustard, Japanese Stilt Grass), introduced from Eurasia primarily in the late 19th and early 20th century, have spread across the woodlands of southwestern CT and the Eastern United States. These plants opportunistically invaded large swaths of abandoned farmland and open woodlands and now dominate the lower stratum of many of our moister and richer forests, including Highstead's Red Maple-White ash Forest. We study the distribution, abundance, and spreading patterns of woodland invasive plants as part of our Forest Variation Study , as well as the effects of removing invasive plants on native species in our Woodland Demonstration Project .
To learn more about how to control and manage invasive species, refer to the CT Invasive Plant Management Guide
Pests and Pathogens
Just as European settlers' host germs wreaked havoc on Native American populations in the 16th and 17th centuries, so have Eurasian trees' host pathogens -- brought primarily to the United States as nursery stock in the late 19th and early 20th centuries -- severely impacted our native trees. These pathogens include the chestnut blight, hemlock wooly adelgid, beech bark disease, dutch elm disease and gypsy moth. In addition, a native pest, the ash yellows, appears to be a factor in recent ash declines.
We monitor the past, present, and future impacts of these forest pests in our permanently marked Forest Variation plots as part of our Ecological Studies Program. To learn more about tree diseases and available options for preventing or eliminating infestations on your property, refer to these sites on American Chestnut, Eastern Hemlock , American Beech , Oaks , American Elm , and White Ash
Forest Harvesting
Selective forest harvests can further woodland management goals by removing diseased trees that can infect nearby healthy trees, by promoting more vigorous growth of uncut trees, and by promoting understory plant growth. Depending on the goals of the landowner, tree thinning can be employed along with deer and invasive species management as part of a broad approach to woodland management as exemplified in our woodland demonstration project . Timber harvesting can also provide financial resources needed for landowners to preserve their woodland rather than sell it for development; however, poorly-planned timber harvests can harm plant and animal diversity, water quality, aesthetics, and the long-term value of woodlands.
To consult a knowledgeable forester before conducting a timber harvest on your land, refer to these sites: http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2697&q=322796&depNav_GID=1631&depNav
http://www.eecos.com/
