White-tailed Deer and Vegetation Management Plan

When Fire Island National Seashore was established more than forty years ago, the sighting of a deer was rare. Today, deer are commonly seen in many parts of the park. In order to address issues associated with the abundance and distribution of white-tailed deer within the boundaries of the park, the National Park Service has begun the process of preparing a White-tailed Deer and Vegetation Management Plan for Fire Island National Seashore. 

 

The National Park Service (NPS) is preparing a White-tailed Deer and Vegetation Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (Deer-Veg plan/EIS) for Fire Island National Seashore. The purpose of the Deer-Veg plan/EIS is to address issues associated with the abundance and distribution of white-tailed deer within park boundaries. The issues include impacts from deer on the natural and cultural resources of the Seashore, as well as impacts resulting from deer-human interaction. Your participation is vital to our planning process. The formal scoping period during which the public commented through this website ended on July 31, 2011. The information gathered during the formal scoping period will be used by planners as they progress to the next stage of the process, the development of draft preliminary management alternatives.

The draft preliminary management alternatives for the Deer-Veg plan/EIS are expected to be available for public review and comment in early 2012. Public meetings will be conducted at that time.

A Draft Fire Island National Seashore White-tailed Deer and Vegetation Management Plan/EIS will be published after careful consideration and evaluation of each of the draft preliminary management alternatives, and the NPS preferred alternative will be presented at that time.

Thank you for your continuing interest in Fire Island National Seashore!

 

Where unnaturally large populations of deer are able to thrive, even native plants are showing signs of distress.

Whenever possible, natural processes are relied upon to maintain native plant and animal species and influence natural fluctuations in populations of these species. The National Park Service may intervene when certain criteria are met. (2006 Management Policies, Chapter 4, Section 4.4.2)

Fire Island National Seashore's objective is to determine what management actions are needed in order to keep the deer population within a range that will not significantly impact natural populations of vegetation within the boundaries of the park.

 

For More Information

Follow the progress at the National Park Service Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) web site:

• http://parkplanning.nps.gov/FireIslandDeerPlanScoping

Fire Island National Seashore White-tailed Deer and Vegetation Management Plan process:

 

Fire Island National Seashore's White-tailed Deer and Vegetation Management Plan Newsletter #1, Summer 2011, announced the initiation of public scoping for this plan.

Summer 2011

• 6-17-2011
• • Federal Register Announcement
  • Press release announcing Public Scoping (6/17/2011 through 7/24/2011)
  • Newsletter #1, Summer 2011: Public Scoping
    

 

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