Future of deer herd population
debated in Portage Lake
ASHLAND NEWS
by Susan Feeney Hopkins
It seems that the plan to harvest two 3-plus acre lots within town boundaries is causing some distress among the residents of Portage Lake.
Photo courtesy of David Farnum
WHITETAIL DEER have migrated to The County and Portage Lake for years and are way down in population numbers. Residents of Portage Lake are fearful if more harvesting is done in the town they will lose the herd forever.
The proposed harvest areas lie within an identified and Inland Fisheries and Wildlife “mapped” deeryard. Alarming to the residents of town because it is said to be “the last wintering deeryard” in the town. They fear for the future of the deer and the loss of the herd permanently.
Demonstrated by past occurrence, when areas within deeryards are harvested, the deer will move out of the area and not return. This, of course, is a huge concern for this area as the town relies on the economic benefits of having a healthy deer population, as well as the simple truth the residents enjoy watching them.
“The whole town of Portage Lake is essentially a deeryard” said officials noting that 1,300 acres within the town is the area mapped as such. For generations, hundreds of deer have migrated to this town for their wintering grounds. Over the years, especially the last five or so, the number of deer has declined dramatically. A good majority of the public feel this is largely due to “over harvesting” in addition to the back-to-back severe winters they have endured.
The land to be cut is classified as “common undivided land,” which means it is owned by more than one entity. In this case, the combined six acres are owned by the town of Portage Lake (50 percent), Irving Woodlands (35 percent) and Prentiss & Carlisle (15 percent). The decision to cut is usually made by the entity with the most shares in the property. In this case, it is the town of Portage Lake. What makes this situation a bit more complicated is the town has for over 20 years hired an outside management company to manage the land. So essentially it is not in the town’s direct management. That said, the only recourse the residents of the town would have is for “someone” to file a complaint with the town manager and from there the complaint would be taken in front of the town’s Board of Selectmen for review.
A public meeting was held at the town hall to allow the residents to voice their concerns while also allowing the planning foresters, a representative from the IF&W and town officials to discuss the plans and respond to the concerns. Forester Laura Audibert, who is the contracted land manager, explained the plans to harvest were based on the overall conditions of the lots, which according to IF&W representative, Wildlife Biologist Rich Hoppe, are “70 percent blow downs.” Typically deer do not travel in areas with blow downs because it’s more difficult to navigate. In harvesting this area, the idea is to allow for the removal of all the blow downs and encourage the growth of food or cover which would then — in turn — attract the deer.
Residents of the town maintain the deer are in fact spending time in these areas. Hoppe, who is a resident of the town as well as the wildlife biologist for the area, knows the conditions of the northern deer herd and has witnessed firsthand the drastic decline in the population. He offers the fact that, “We lost 30-50 percent of our deer in the past few years,” which by anyone’s accounting is ominous. He works along with Audibert consulting and managing the land and supports the cutting because the scheme behind the type of cutting to be done is to “manage the land for deer cover or food.”
“The purpose of the cut is to create cover (for the deer) where there is none,” said Audibert. While most of the residents agree with forest management practices in general and understand the theory behind the cutting, their concerns lie with the demonstrated loss of deeryards due to harvesting. They fear “what is said and planned, and what is done” do not always jive.
The meeting became heated at times as the residents voiced their concerns and what they deemed as “a lack of concern for the deer” said one resident. A lot of the opposing frustration was caused by the insistence of the harvesting officials the land to be cut is “not being used by the deer.” Residents were passionate in attesting to “the fact” they are. An attendee was overheard saying, “Why are they (the officials) denying it? It’s like it has turned into a power struggle choosing to harvest over our deer.”
One resident who has made it his personal mission to help the deer survive, spoke out saying he is in the woods every day and sees the deer there and sees evidence of their wintering the area. “I have been witness to deer behavior for years. The deer no longer use routes (of travel) they used to use because their cover has been removed.”
He also explained he has been witness to the predation effect the cutting has on the deer. “When an area is being cut, it attracts and congregates the deer because they know there will be food, such as tree tops, to eat. Then in turn, it attracts the coyotes because they too know there will be food for them — the deer. I have seen them get picked off one by one.”
Most of the townspeople in attendance agreed with this and didn’t seem to understand why officials are adamant about harvesting in this area when there is so much opposition. No one can deny the deer here are on the brink. “The area is fragile and if there is no danger to human life in not cutting these lots, then what’s the big deal? Why not wait it out and see what happens?” said one resident who wished to remain anonymous.
The officials stand by their decisions to cut these lots and the scientific reasons behind doing so. Audibert explained the rationale in harvesting these chosen lots were based on and in consideration of the deer’s habitat. She insists the methods used are in the best interest of the deer herd further explaining the forest management practices that influence wintering grounds, routes of travel, ground and canopy covers and food. Audibert offered, “If we do nothing, we will lose the deeryards any way. The land needs to be managed.”
Northern Maine is on the northern boundary of natural whitetail deer habitat. As much as we want the deer in large numbers, they are not naturally supported here. Which again makes this a unique situation because we have historically had a good and healthy deer population. We have the land to support them and we have all witnessed their decline. Is this due to harvesting, harsh climate, predation or the natural cycle of things? I believe they all play a role and all need to be closely examined to see what we as the human population can do to help them along.
Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to put the plans for the harvest on hold to better assess the situation. Nature is hardly textbook. Maybe harvesting these two lots will in fact help them along. Either way, we must work together to accomplish our common goal otherwise it will not only be the deer herd that lose. It will be all of us.
Ashland Advent Christian Church Winter Blast
Photo courtesy of Cheryl Harris
BIG KID MaryEllen Hanling shows the young ones how it’s done.
Members of the Ashland Advent Christian Church recently enjoyed a day of sledding and fellowship at the Portage Lakeside Cabins. Hosts Laura and Alcide “Coon” Bouchard opened their home and cabins to church members and interested community members for a fun-filled afternoon. Kids big and small came out to the lake to enjoy the outdoors with their family and friends.
Photo courtesy of Cheryl Harris
JAYE ELLIS took a ride with daughter, Callie, during the day of outdoor fun.
The Bouchards invited everyone indoors to the main house for a homemade bean dinner including beans, cole slaw, rolls, chop suey, vegetables and assorted snacks. There was also hot mulled apple cider and cookies set up in one of the cabins. Donations were accepted (and the jar was full!) for the supper to help with the church’s mission fundraiser.
WAITING PATIENTLY — Peggy Morton, left, Missy Hall and MacKenzie Hall anxiously await their turn down the hill.
Pastor Bill Harris won the door prize which is for a two night stay (for two) in the Bird’s Nest Cabin which is nestled right on the lake. He plans to take his lovely bride, Cheryl, there for their June wedding anniversary.
Photo courtesy of Cheryl HarrisOUTDOOR ACTIVITIES are always a good time for family bonding. These five cousins all took part in the recent Winter Blast. Pictured are, from left: Skylar Ellis, Mariah Ellis with Callie Ellis, Sarah Ellis and Mary Ellis.
Once the sun set, everyone retired for play in the main house for a game of dominos and rummikub. It was said that everyone really enjoyed the simplicity of each other’s company.
Susan Feeney-Hopkins is the correspondent for Ashland, Portage Lake, Oxbow, Masardis, Garfield, Nashville Plantation and the surrounding areas. She can be reached at 435 – 8232 or Feenhop@aol.com.
