Society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they shall never sit in. - Greek Proverb

Research Summaries

Below are summaries of some of the research studies that document the success of reforestation aides as well as the swelling populations of deer and their impacts on forest ecology and forest regeneration success.

Deer Impacts on Reforestation

From across Wisconsin to areas of reforestation projects in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey and in many other states, white-tailed deer have taken their toll on forest regeneration success. While hunting of deer remain the best means by which to control their population, relying on hunters is no longer the only strategy for forest landowners.

Tree shelters and other reforestation aides now play a critical role in fostering tree survival. The following studies provide the latest findings related to deer browse pressures on reforestation:

• Deer Impacts on Forest Ecology and Management (2006 Natural Oak Regeneration Study)
• Numerous Published Studies About Deer Impacts, completed by Don Waller and Tom Rooney
• Deer Impacts on Forest Ecology and Management (2006 Plantation (artificial regeneration) Assessment)
• Deer Impacts on Forest Ecology and Management (2005 Reforestation (artificial regeneration) Survey)
• Direct and Indirect Effects of White-tailed Deer in Forest Ecosystems (a PDF format file)
• Study of Oak Regeneration Yielding Eye-opening Conclusions
• Ecological Impacts of Deer Overabundance (a PDF format file)
• In England and Wales, where tree shelters were first developed to address tree browse by Roe Deer, forest landowners have experienced extensive problems.

Rising Deer Populations

White-tailed deer populations are at near peak population levels in Wisconsin and in many states throughout the United States. While deer were once relatively rare in the 1900s with a population around 500,000, today their population has exploded to numbers in excess of 25 million.

The high deer population is raising concern about the possibility that they may out-strip the available vegetation needed for their sustainance. This has led not only to reforestation problems, but loss of native species and a transformation of understory ecology. Among the studies which document the growing deer population and their impacts include:


• Record Deer Populations in Wisconsin
• Record Deer Populations in Minnesota

Effectiveness of TREE PRO Tree Shelters

Tree shelters, tree protectors and tree tubes are, as a whole, designed to protect tree seedlings from deer browse, small animal browse, drought, high winds and other severe weather, mowers, herbicides and weed eaters. But not all tree shelters are the same. In the process of trying to mitigate some problems, certain brands create other problems that can adversely effect the chances of tree survival.

TREE PRO Miracle Tubes (five foot) and TREE PRO shrub shelters (2 foot) have been widely documented in their success over competing brands. The TREE PRO Company provides a summary of independent research studies.

Protect your trees. Select from the growing list of reforestation aides offered by Southwest Badger RC&D, and increase your chances of a prosperous forest in the years to come.

Southwest Badger
Resource, Conservation & Development Council, Inc.
150 W. Alona Ln.
Lancaster WI 53813
Tel: 608-723-6377 x136
E-mail: swbadger@mhtc.net
Website: www.treeprotection.org