Tree Regeneration and Herbaceous Plants in Tracts Managed for White-Tailed Deer in the Cincinnati Parks System

Overabundant Odocoileus virginianus (White-tailed Deer) are a threat to forest regeneration due to browse on seedlings of preferred species. We investigated the deer-management program of Cincinnati Parks (Ohio) to determine if controlled hunting reduced deer density enough to facilitate tree regeneration. We surveyed seedlings, saplings, trees, palatable herbs, and invasive shrubs in 5 sites. In all sites, sapling densities were <1000/ha, thus insufficient for forest regeneration. Four sites had seedling densities >2500/ha, considered sufficient for regeneration. However, when taxa that cannot contribute to future canopies (Fraxinus [ash], Asimina triloba [Pawpaw]) were excluded, all sites were below the density necessary for regeneration. Species preferred by White-tailed Deer were common in the canopy of the forests, but sparse in the seedling and sapling layers, suggesting deer will shift tree species composition. Sites also had low cover of herb species preferred by deer. Among sites, reduction of palatable herb cover was significantly associated with both recent deer density and invasive shrub cover, while tree-seedling density showed a negative trend with deer density. Our findings indicate management has not decreased deer populations sufficiently in the Cincinnati Parks to promote vegetation regeneration. Deer exclusion or underplanting of protected tree seedlings are needed to facilitate tree regeneration.