Questions and Answers about Wildlife Management - Geauga Park ...

Questions and Answers
about
Wildlife Management
PH - June 2006

NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
The mission of the Geauga Park District is “to preserve, conserve, and protect the natural features of Geauga
County and to provide the opportunity for people to enjoy and appreciate those resources.” A portion of the
Park District’s mission refers to conservation, the active care of our land. Natural resource management is the
process of providing active conservation stewardship, or care of plant and animal species within the various
habitats. It often requires proactive measures to control both invasive plants and animal species that alter the
balance and health of a natural area. As public and private landowners, we can all do our part to ensure good
management and stewardship are part of our conservation ethic.
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
Geauga Park District faces many challenges in maintaining healthy wildlife communities. Wildlife like
whitetail deer, wild turkey, beaver, muskrat, eastern coyote, and other species have adapted to landscapes
developed by humans. This adaptation has resulted in growing animal populations although there is not
sufficient natural habitat to support the needs of all species. This results in a
lack of food and shelter for wildlife, the destruction of native plant species, and
competition between animal species for the available food sources.
Additionally, some of the cultural impacts of wildlife overpopulation are
increased numbers of vehicle/wildlife collisions, and damage to crops and private
landscaping. Species like beaver and muskrat sometimes pose a challenge to
natural resource managers, because they burrow into the dams of lakes and ponds,
and cause significant damage to roads and neighboring properties.
In order to counteract some of these challenges, Geauga Park District utilizes a
number of wildlife management practices. In 2006, Geauga Park District Board
of Park Commissioners approved a wildlife management policy to allow controlled
hunting. At times, controlled trapping is used to maintain beaver and muskrat.
The purpose of this document is to provide answers to the most frequently asked questions about Geauga Park
District’s Wildlife Management Policy, and its implementation.
1) Does this policy allow for open hunting in the parks
At no time, will Geauga Park District properties be open for public hunting or trapping. Hunting or trapping
as wildlife management tools will be strictly controlled. Wildlife control will only occur on specific dates
on selected properties identified by Geauga Park District Board of Park Commissioners, and only licensed
sportsmen and sportswomen who are residents of Geauga County will be selected to participate.
2) What other choices of wildlife management tools have been used in other parks, and how
have they worked
Parks, public, and private agencies in Ohio have experimented with four different methods for controlling
wildlife populations. They include:
1) Do Nothing – “Let nature take its course”
Result – Currently, habitat loss is the single largest impact to species worldwide. As Geauga County
continues to expand and develop homes and businesses, habitat is displaced. Any animal has the
potential to outgrow and displace other species within its habitat. If these species are not managed in a
pro-active manner, our list of rare, threatened, endangered, and extirpated species will continue to grow.

2) Contraception/Sterilization
Result – Various agencies, including Cleveland Metroparks, have experimented with contraception as a
tool to control wildlife populations. This method is proven ineffective in controlling deer populations.
One of the biggest challenges in achieving sufficient results with this method is implanting or sterilizing
a sufficient number of animals to control the population. Furthermore, contraception is not approved by
state and federal agencies because it is introducing an unnatural chemical into a wild population.
3) Sharpshooting
Result – Sharpshooting is the process of using a hired consultant to “cull” or eliminate a portion of a
wildlife population. This process has proven effective for whitetail deer in local parks and communities.
Unfortunately, the process is usually implemented after natural resources suffer significant or drastic
damage. At this point in time, park commissioners have determined it would be preferable to allow
Geauga County sportsmen and sportswomen to assist in the process of controlling wildlife populations.
4) Controlled hunting
Result – Hunting is a wildlife management tool used throughout the world. The process of allowing
sportspersons to harvest wildlife has been proven effective at maintaining healthy populations in a park
setting. In many ways, utilizing controlled hunting could be compared to fishing on park property. To
ensure the health of ponds or lakes Geauga Park District allows anglers to remove fish, thus ensuring the
entire aquatic system remains healthy. In the same way, wildlife species must sometimes be removed to
ensure species and habitats remain healthy.
3) Why has Geauga Park District chosen “controlled hunting”
Geauga Park District has consulted with parks throughout Ohio, and has determined that hunting is a viable
management option when used in a proactive approach to maintaining ecosystem health. After researching the
other management options outlined above, we decided that controlled hunting is the best management option for
this park district.
4) How will Geauga Park District ensure that people are safe while hunts are in progress
Safety will be provided by enforcing strict controls over the hunts when they take place. Strict limits will be
placed on hunting areas, hunter education requirements, number of hunters allowed in the field, the type of
hunting implements used for harvest, and by keeping the public informed through written letters, signs, and
public correspondence. Hunts will be monitored by law enforcement and wildlife officers.
5) How will Geauga Park District ensure that the hunters or trappers
selected are knowledgeable, safety conscious, and experienced
When sportsmen and sportswomen are selected to participate in wildlife
management control, they will be required to adhere to strict rules and regulations as
spelled out by Geauga Park District and Ohio Division of Wildlife.
1) All hunters are required to complete a hunter safety education course prior to
receiving an Ohio license. Completion of a trapper education test is required
prior to being certified to obtain a trapping permit.
2) Geauga Park District will work with Geauga County sporting goods
businesses and/or bow-hunting clubs to ensure bow-hunters complete an
accuracy course.
3) “Youth Hunters,” 17 or younger must be accompanied by an adult during
their hunt.
4) All participants will be required to attend a mandatory orientation meeting conducted to
ensure safe outdoor activity.

6) How will bullets and hunters be kept away from adjacent, private properties
Participants in a hunt will be required to follow all rules and regulations as spelled out by Geauga Park District
and Ohio Division of Wildlife, and these rules will be strictly enforced by Geauga Park District rangers and/or
other law enforcement officers.
Geauga Park District regulation 12.4 specifies that “no persons shall hunt, discharge a firearm or any other
weapon at any wildlife species within 200 feet of any road, structure, path, and/or parking lot; or on, across, or
from any roadway.”
Some smaller park properties will be deemed unsuitable for this particular wildlife management activity, if
safety cannot be ensured.
7) Where will a hunt be held
Plans for controlled hunts will be evaluated by Natural Resource Management, Ranger, and Administrative
staff at a variety of park properties. A decision on whether or not to allow hunting will be based on species
population numbers, public safety, and maintaining public service for park visitors.
8) When will a hunt be held
All hunting activities will be approved on an individual case by case basis by the Board of Park
Commissioners. Hunting will be held at a limited number of park properties when the need has been
demonstrated, and appropriate administrative controls are in place to conduct a safe hunt.
9) How many hunters will be on a designated site at the same time
The number of hunters on park property will be determined on a case by case basis with the objective of
providing a safe environment for all park patrons, neighboring property owners, and the sportsmen and
sportswomen.
10) How will Geauga Park District monitor hunts
Park Rangers will assist Natural Resource Management personnel with planning, implementing, and
monitoring these hunts. In addition, Wildlife Officers with Ohio Division of Wildlife will assist park staff
with monitoring. Hunters will be required to report their records of harvest to the Geauga Park District Natural
Resource Management Department.
11) How will people be notified that a hunt is scheduled, or in progress
The park district will use media releases, targeted mailings to neighboring property owners, and signs to keep
neighbors and park visitors informed of any controlled hunts that take place. At times, certain properties may
be completely closed to the public, if necessary to ensure public safety.
12) What species currently require management
The purpose of Geauga Park District establishing a wildlife management policy is to effectively manage
healthy populations of all species for future generations of Geauga County residents. Currently, we are
managing whitetail deer populations.
13) What determines that a species is “out of balance”
For an ecosystem to be “in balance,” the land must have enough resources to provide food and shelter for the
animals that are living there. “Biological Carrying Capacity” is a term that refers to the maximum number of
animals a park or natural area can support without affecting the health of other plants and animals.

14) What causes an imbalance of habitats
A healthy ecosystem is made up of a balance of plants and animals. Over the past 200 years, Geauga County
has experienced successive changes of land use, and some species of native wildlife, such as wolves, cougars
and bears, have been eliminated from the area, upsetting the balance of predators. The loss of natural predators,
coupled with an abundance of food sources created by landscaped lots, active and inactive farms, golf
courses and similar development has allowed some animal populations, such as deer and turkey, to expand
disproportionately. In addition, many private properties in the county are closed to hunting, resulting in
uncontrolled population growth.
15) What studies have officials used to make these wildlife management decisions
Geauga Park District has been consulting with neighboring park districts and conservation agencies for decades.
Ohio Division of Wildlife conducts studies and keeps statistics on fish and wildlife populations in Geauga.
Wildlife biologists conduct research on population numbers and the biological carrying capacity of the land.
Natural resource professionals, through research and study, have calculated
how many animals of the various species can thrive per acre of land. For
example, in a natural area, the appropriate biological carrying capacity for
white tail deer is 5 to 10 animals per square mile. In some Geauga County
parks and preserves, a density in excess of 150 deer per square mile have
been counted using aerial infrared surveys. The Ohio Division of Wildlife has
concluded that the area of Geauga County west of State Route 44 is considered
an “urban deer zone,” meaning Whitetail Deer populations continue to grow
and exceed biological carrying capacity.
Swine Creek Reservation - 7 deer per square mile
Healthy ground cover and understory
Geauga Park District also works with fish and wildlife biologists to monitor
healthy populations of fish and wildlife species. For example, biologists assist
the park in restoring healthy populations of species like the bald eagle, osprey,
and brook trout. We conduct an annual “Bio-Blitz” with professionals in the
scientific community to document plant and animal populations in various
parks. In addition, Natural Resource Management staff conducts in-house
biological assessments and plant studies to assess populations of plant and
animal communities prior to any park development. Geauga Park District also
sponsors a small grants program to encourage research about animal and plant
populations on park properties.
16) How is hunting consistent with Geauga Park District’s mission
to “preserve, conserve and protect natural resources”
Conservation is the active care of the land that the park district has preserved;
Protection is the act of ensuring that the lands Geauga Park District is charged
with managing today will be here for generations to come. Hunting is a
management tool that can be utilized to ensure healthy, balanced populations
of plants and animals throughout the Park District.
Beartown Lakes Reservation - 52 deer per
square mile. Ground cover and understory
greatly compromised
Frohring Meadows -154 deer per square mile
Ground cover and understory virtually eliminated,
resulting is loss of diverse plant species for
public enjoyment and as food sources for wildlife