OF ELEPHANTS AND BLIND MEN: DEER MANAGEMENT IN THE U.S. NATIONAL PARKS

摘要: Overabundant populations of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are becoming common in the eastern United States. Faced with burgeoning parks, National Park Service (NPS) formulated policy based on its long experience ungulate management western parks. That NPS failed to find a solution acceptable many constituencies was inevitable. Like blind men touching different parts an elephant and disagreeing about form, those engaged debate parks viewing ecological system. None has seen entire system, consequently, there is neither agreement nature problem nor solutions. We explore quandary by addressing three questions: (1) Can reconcile goals neighbors? (2) thresholds be identified for determining when intervene natural processes? (3) Is...