HomeMy WebLinkAboutCornell Work Plan for 2015-16.PDFll September, 20L5
Mayor Kate Supron
Village of Cayuga Heights
Dear Kate-
I have attached a draft work plan and budget the deer oamera survey during 2015-16. With fewer
deer and photos to review, I was able to red the budget and drop the cost for the student intern.
lf the Village Board approves the new
2014-15 scope of work), then we are amendi
process than creating a new contract. There re about 54,000 in the old work plan that have not been
billed to the Village. lf the Board can act q , and we plocess the new work as an amendment, any
rd work plan before October 31 (the term date for the
an existing contract. This is a simpler and quicker
Mike will be able to review and enter data
several old cameras on a grant, so I also d
updated work plan and budget, and let me
Sponsored Programs.
funds remaining at the end of the overall
"returned" in quotes because the Village
advance, they are only committed to the
we could possibly ride around the Village a
operate.
the anticipaled number of photos. I was able to replace
the camera cost from the budget. Please review the
if it is OK ito process this through Cornell's Office of
will be "rbturned" to Cayuga Heights. I put the
not actually give Cornell University those funds in
Payment is made based on actual spending, and then
Cornell sends an invoice to the Village. So at
surplus in the Village deer account, plus any
Given that we want to start baiting camera soon after November 1 so the photo data will be
collected before the Thanksgiving holiday, it rld be gredt if we can process the new work as an
ions, and I would be glad to discuss those by phone.amendment. Let me know if you have any
My schedule is fairly flexible during the of Sept 2L, so if you have time during the day that week,
end of the amended contract, there will be a 54,000
ver funds from the 2015-76 contract.
look for other potential sites for White Buffalo staffto
Best regalds,
{eA
PaulCurtis
Cornell University
Cornell Un Work Plan for 2015-16:
Deer Research and M Plan, Village of Cayuga Heights, New York
Paul D.and Michael L. Ashdown
Depart of Natural Resources
Cornell Uni ity,Ithaqa,NY 14853
Background:
The capture and tagging of deer 2012 allid2013 mthe Village of Cayuga Heights
provided a known, marked population of necessaqy for an abundance estimate using mark-
recapture analyses. Initial deer estimates were generated by program NOREMARK.
A reasonable estimate of deer abundance Cayuga Hpights based on these two analyses was
225 deer, (approximately I25 deer per mile) in January 2013, and 160 deer (89 deer per
on of surgical sterilization, removal of tagged deer
number of untagged deer remaining in the community (for estimating immigration rates), and to
estimate deer abundance. The resutrtins ion estirnate (n:137) and 95olo confidence
square mile) in January 2014. The
by hunters on adjacent Comell lands, and
population in the Village.
We again conducted a camera
interval (127-148) provided the most
about a39Yo population decline over two years.
vehicle accidents is slowly reducing the deer
during early January 2015 in order to determine the
It is also very close to the midpoint (138 {eer) between the upper and lower possible bounds for
nable estimate of deer abundance in Cayuga Heights.
population size based on tagged deer obsirved. So defr density in January 2015 was
approximately 76 deer per square mile ba$ed on the esfimate of 137 deer. This is much lower
than the 125 deer per square mile (based {n a total of 225 deer) calculated in January 2013.
Sterilization surgery with 98% of female {eer treated, hnd observed mortality rates, resulted in
under aNYSDEC Deer Damage Permit (pOn; during lats winter 2015. The Village police
approved use of crossbows for deer remolral at selecte[ sites. A total of 48 deer were removed,
including 26taggeddeer, and 22urfiagge{ 4""t. Twe{rty-frve of the 26taggeddeer removed
were females, which is not suqprising giv{n the low nrlmber of bucks initially tagged in the
Village. Consequently, White Buffalo, \b., staff likeiy removed3T (26 taggedand 11 untagged)
deer that may have been present in the Vi]lage during fhe time of the camera survey in January
2015 (plus an I 1 additional untagged tranfient deer). pubtracting these probabie 37 resident deer
from the population estimate of 137 deer in January, lgaves a residual population of about 100
deer in the Village (56 deer per square mife) by late lr{arch 2015. This is a55.60/o reduction in
The Village then contracted with White BufTalo, Inc., staff to remove deer from the area
deer numbers since the original camera stlvey was copducted in January 2013.
During 2015, we propose to co
during November rather than January.
2013, and (2) conducting a camera survey
immigration rates for female deer.
t the camerp survey to estimate deer abundance
change in s,chedule has several advantages. The
ll be condudted during the peak ofdeer breeding
deer sex ralios. We can also determine the location of
rs in the cor.nmunity. The only potential disadvantage
in November 2015 to estimate deer abundance and
work can be done prior to extreme cold
retain their antlers, as this photo survey
season (rut), providing a better estimate
potential deep snow in January. All bucks will
immigrant, untagged female deer with
is that a slightly lower proporlion of deer
the acorns may draw deer away from our
get photographed ifthere is a good acorn crop, as
looking at the total number of deer
see if this differs from previous yoars.
Research Objectives:
Primary research objectives for Y 4 are similar to previous years and include: (1)
continued monitoring of mortality and ofdeer captured and tagged during 2012 and
Methods:
The Village of Cayuga Heights (1.p square milbs) will be divided into 12 equally-sized
sections by overlaying a grid of approxi y 100-acqe blocks over a map of the community.J - J -l- ---
Twelve infrared-triggered, digital camerai will again !e deployed over bait piles on properties
with high probability of deer activity with{n each block. It is intended that each camera will
NYSDEC permit, technicians will contact each landov{
cameras and putting out bait for deer. We will attempt to use the same camera sites in November
2015 as were used during the past January.
Camera sites will be baited daily with approxirnately 15 pounds of dry, shelled corn for at
least two days prior to camera deploymenl during earljr November 2015. Once the cameras are
operating, the bait will be increased to as riruch as 30 piound per day at sites with higher deer
activity and less than 15 pounds if there is bait left froln the previous day. The cameras will be
set to run continuously for 24 hours per d{y, with a preset delay of 5 minutes between pictures.
Every other day during the field survey, t{e memoV cards in the cameras will be changed so that
technicians can confirm that the canneras {re functioniqg properly. We anticipate completing the
photo survey prior to November 25th.
After the cameras are removea Ao{n the field, all the pictures containing deer will be
sorted by site and numbered. Each pictur{ will then bo closely studied, and any legible ear tag
number recorded. We also will record the total number of deer, the number of unmarked deer,
and the number of unidentifiable marked {eer for each photo. From these photographic data, the
from private landowners for bait sites, as
digital, infrared-triggered camera survey
days prior to implementation, camera si
coming to camera stations. Near the of each 100-acre grid section, we will create a bait
total number of times each identifiable,
NOREMARK, along with the total num
deer known to be alive in the population
will be determined from radio-telemetry
Timeline:
November I *November 30,2015:
Sites will be selected and pre-baited for
station containing 15 pounds of whole
ked deer id observed will be entered into the program
of unmarked deer. and the total number of marked
uring the survey. The number of marked deer alive
visual observations.
deer camefa survey. Permission will be obtained
.s been done in the past. CU staff will implement a
estimate deer population numbers in VCH. Up to 10
will be preibaited with corn to get deer accustomed to
obtained from Comell Farm Services. Low-lying
ilI analyze the camera data with program
o provide lCH officials with a reliable estimate of
vegetation within a}}-yard radius of the it will be dleared to facilitate deer identification in
photographs. Camera sites will be moni daily for up to three weeks.
December 1,2015 - May 31,2016:
Cornell staff will examine photographs o deer and maintain a database. We will obtain the date
and the numbers of marked. unmarked"marked but unidentifiable deer from each
photograph. Upon completion, P. Curtis
NOREMARK. The project goals will be
deer abundance, and determine the immr ion rate qf new female deer. P. Curtis will prepare a
final report for Village officials.
June 1 * October 31,2016:
Throughout the project, travel wilX be
Heights. The truck will primarily be dri
and to transport bait and supplies to the
attend project meetings and assist with
been used for budgeting.
Comell staffwill help the VCH by r."ordin, date anl location for deer mortalities, recovering
deer collars ltags,and maintaining the deep database.
Travel:
ary betwpen campus and the Village of Cayuga
by Mike Ashdown to commute between field sites
ld. The truck will also be used by Paul Curtis to
work as needed. Cornell fleet vehicle rates have
PROJECT TITLE:
PRI NCI PAL I NVESTIGATOR:
PROJECT PERIOD:
PERSONNEL:
Curtis (0.25 month)
Technician-Ashdown (3 months at 20
Total Salaries/Wages
FRINGE (CU =59.84%)
Curtis
Ashdown
Total Fringe Benefits
Total Personnel:
SUPPLIES:
Farm Services (corn bait)
Batteries and memory cards
TotalSupplies:
TRAVEL:
Mileage
(S83 daity plus $0.27lmile for 25 days)
TotalTravel:
Subtotal
lndirect Costs (20%)
Total:
Estimaling Deer Abundance in Cayuga Heights, New York
Curtis, Paul
November t, 2OLS - October 31, 2016
Year 4
3,470
5,678
9,148
2,O76
3,398
5,474
L4,662
250
100
350
2,237
2,237
L7,209
3,442
$20,511