Are deer to blame for damage to forest understory?
It is simplistic to blame forest understory damage solely on deer when there are so many factors involved, such as global warming, which impacts pivotal processes such as oak tree masting; acid rain, which impacts many aspects of plant growing cycles; gypsy moth defoliation of the upper canopy, which impacts the plants on the forest floor; european earthworms; a myriad of pollutants, and subdivision of forests into smaller and smaller parcels with resultant species loss. “The interrelated effects of herbivory by various mammals, acid rain, European earthworms, pollutants, and other factors all impact forest succession and plants species diversity. It is easy to point the finger at the visible culprit [the deer] while more complex, cumulative, yet less visible factors aren’t even called on the carpet.” Laura Simon, Field Director, The Humane Society of the United States, Letter to Editor, Newtown Bee, November 17, 2006.
