Deer and Rabbit Browsing and Available Winter Forage in Allegheny Hardwood Forests

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Abstract
Counts of the low cover of tree and shrubby browse beneath 2d-growth Allegheny hardwood forests were made in 1936, 1941, and 1946, within and outside plots fenced against white-tail deer and both deer and rabbits. Results show that recovery of over-browsed cover was most rapid where both deer and rabbits were excluded. Where deer alone were kept out, the cover decreased, as it did on the unfenced check areas. Rabbits thus do more damage to browse than deer. Efforts should be made to control the rabbit population in lower slope and valley bottom sites used for winter range. This may be accomplished in part by reduced trapping of rabbit predators such as weasel, mink, and fox. A period of at least 10 yrs. is required to bring back a winter range under reduced use by rabbits and normal deer browsing. Restoration of depleted winter deer range is vitally needed to prevent starvation losses during periods of low temp. and deep crusted snows. In addition to rabbit control, such measures as partial cutting which leave a protection canopy will accelerate the increase in density and height growth of the needed browse cover.

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