Why was bow hunting chosen to manage the deer population at Loch Raven Reservoir?
The large population of white-tailed deer at Loch Raven Reservoir has caused widespread damage to the forest understory. The Forest Conservation Plan which was prepared for the City of Baltimore in 2003 by the Maryland DNR Forest Service found that over-browsing (grazing) by deer has eliminated virtually all young tree saplings and is the greatest threat to the forest’s ability to re-generate. It has been proven that the best way to preserve water quality is to maintain a healthy and vigorous forested buffer and reducing the deer population is the best way to ensure the long-term health of the forest.
