Community Example: Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

Key facts

Community Size: Small city or village (less than 10,000 people)

Region: South

Plan established in 2012

Link(s): Harper's Ferry Urban White-Tailed Deer Management Plan

The town of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia (population <300), is surrounded by the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park—a natural asset for the community, but one that harbors a large number of white-tailed deer. In partnership with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Harpers Ferry established an annual special archery hunt in 2012, and the local deer committee reports that deer sightings and deer-related property damage are already in decline.

Location

Community Survey

Survey completed by a state agency

Phase 1: Problem Definition

Initial discussion about deer as a community issue

Which parties initiated the original discussion about the possibility of a local deer management program?

Formal (elected or appointed) community leaders (e.g., town supervisor, town council)

Issue Drivers

What deer-related concerns were the main drivers of the original discussion about need for local deer management?

Deer damage to gardens and plantings around homes

Any particular impact/event that was a tipping point for your community’s decision to develop a deer management program?

Increase in deer damage to gardens and plantings around homes

Gathering Information

What process was used to define the deer management problem(s) in the community?

A local deer committee charged with defining the problem held discussions, but the committee did not have an outside facilitator

Special challenges

Describe any challenges the community faced in defining the deer and deer management problem.

Challenge:

People who were opposed to any deer harvest.

Community Response:

Proof of overwhelming support for a program was provided based on community survey.

Challenge:

Community safety during hunt.

Community Response:

Archery proficiency test was required for hunters.

Phase 2: Decision-Making

Structure of the decision-making process

In what year did the first decision-making phase begin?

2011

What parties initiated or convened the process?

A deer committee created by formal leaders

What was the mechanism by which action alternative were selected in the community?

Majority rule within an appointed deer committee

In what ways did community members have opportunity(s) to provide input during the decision-making process?

Unsolicited comments on action alternatives were accepted by leaders, Leaders created a formal public comment period before making decisions

Did your community use a facilitator to help make decisions about deer management goals and actions?

Discussions about deer management goals and alternatives were facilitated by the chair or leader of the local deer committee

Information Gathering

What information sources were consulted by the community group that made decisions about deer management action alternatives?

Content experts from wildlife agency, Content experts from other organizations, Community opinion presented by stakeholder groups, Research reports or papers

How were different types of information used?

Content experts from wildlife agency:

To determine feasibility, To determine acceptability of action alternatives

Content experts from other organizations:

To determine feasibility

Community opinion presented by stakeholder groups:

To determine acceptability of action alternatives

Research reports or papers:

To determine acceptability of action alternatives

Program Goals

When were goals for the community-based deer management identified?

During the process of selecting action alternatives

Selecting Management Actions

Phase 3: Implementation

Key characteristics of the management program

Have any actions already been taken with respect to your deer management program?

Yes. Special archery hunt has been in effect since 2012.

Did your community create any new positions to assist in implementing the deer management program?

Volunteer

Phase 4: Evaluation and Adaptation

The community's approach to outcome assessment

Did the community develop an assessment plan for measuring progress towards deer management goals?

Yes

What kinds of baseline information did your community collect before implementing the deer management program?

Deer population or deer density

Remote camera studies to estimate deer population or deer density

Residents’ perceptions

Create a system that allows residents to report complaints, and monitor change in number and type of complaints submitted to the system, Resident surveys to assess residents’ perceived level of problems with deer and how tolerable those problems are

If an assessment plan was created, what indicators are used for measuring outcomes of management actions?

Deer population or deer density

Camera-trap monitoring studies to estimate deer population or deer density

Residents’ perceptions

Create a system that allows residents to report problems, and monitor change in number and type of complaints submitted to the system, Resident surveys to assess residents’ perceived level of problems with deer and how tolerable those problems are

Who is responsible for carrying out the assessment plan and monitoring the success of the deer management program?

Deer Committee

Assessment of program success overall

Does the community consider its CBDM program to be successful in achieving its objectives? Why or why not?

Yes. Deer sightings and damage to private property has been reduced.