[MAIPC] Oh deer

[Ossi, Damien (DOEE)]

I have noticed that deer will browse on arboescent English ivy, but not on English ivy that grows on the ground.  English ivy vines on trees will be stripped of their leaves up to the browse line, but the ivy on the ground is untouched.  English ivy will be stripped off of fallen trees as well.  I wonder if something happens chemically when E. ivy arboizes to make the leaves more palatable to deer.

Damien P. Ossi
Wildlife Biologist
Fisheries & Wildlife Division
Department of Energy & Environment
Government of the District of Columbia
1200 First Sreet NE, Fifth Floor
Washington, DC 20002
desk: (202) 741-0840
web: doee.dc.gov
damien.ossi at dc.gov<mailto:damien.ossi at dc.gov>

With Mayor Bowser adjusting the District of Columbia’s operating status in response to coronavirus (COVID-19), I will be teleworking indefinitely. I can still be reached at damien.ossi at dc.gov<mailto:damien.ossi at dc.gov> or 202-741-0840

From: MAIPC <maipc-bounces at lists.maipc.org> On Behalf Of Stephen Hiltner
Sent: Thursday, November 5, 2020 11:04 AM
To: Marc Imlay <ialm at erols.com>
Cc: INVASIVES at LISTSERV.UMD.EDU; MAIPC Listserve <maipc at lists.maipc.org>
Subject: Re: [MAIPC] Oh deer

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We find at Herrontown Woods in Princeton that deer will eat the new growth sprouting from stumps of winged euonymus. I saw what looked like a deer eating the leaves of privet the other day. Along with GMD's (genetically modified deer?), is it possible that deer could be trained through exposure to more tender versions of invasives to become acclimated/accustomed to eating the mature foliage? Perhaps there are studies in which animals are given mixes containing increasing amounts of an otherwise rejected food source, until they begin to consider it agreeable? With stiltgrass and other invasives providing such a vast potential food source, there's clear reward for anything that adapts to consume them.

On Thu, Nov 5, 2020 at 10:34 AM Marc Imlay <ialm at erols.com<mailto:ialm at erols.com>> wrote:
A decade or so ago deer were reported being killed except for a few found consuming Microstegium vimineum.  Have any results been reported of selection for genetically modified deer or new herds trained to eat deer? Marc

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