Cornell University
OP-T2-20: Wildlife Habitat

Cornell University protects and manages the campus as natural areas, wildlife habitats, and naturalistic landscaped areas in support of wildlife biodiversity. These lands include two gorges, 70,425 feet of streams and riparian habitats, mature and successional forests, marsh, wet meadow, and old field habitats, as well as Plantations Botanic Garden and F.R. Newman Arboretum. These areas, which comprise 32% of the campus, are actively protected and managed to support the educational mission of the University. Management activities include but are not limited to monitoring, habitat establishment, natural areas restoration, naturalization, invasive species control, and deer over-population management.

Several of these habitats are recognized for their regional significance, including the Mitchell Street Hawthorn Thicket Natural Area, which is recognized as a "migrant trap" for neo-tropical migrating birds, and the Bull Pasture Ponds, which supports a very high diversity and abundance of amphibians.

Cornell University also supports a deer research and management program to reduce negative impacts of deer overpopulation on and near campus. Discussions and actions regarding deer damage management reflect the University's goal to maintain the integrity of Cornell lands, while being cognizant of related neighborhood impacts. The project is being implemented for the primary purposes of supporting the research, teaching, and outreach functions of Cornell University.

Additional website for University Deer Management Study: http://wildlifecontrol.info/deer/Pages/default.aspx

RTB 11/5/13