Effects of the Introduction of a Pipeline Right-of-Way with Planted Travel Corridors to a Deer Wintering Area in Northern New York

Kevin R. Dominske

In 1991, a buried natural gas pipeline was installed through a deer wintering area located in northern New York State. Five conifer travel corridors were installed across the right-of-way in 1993 to promote deer crossings. A research plan was developed to determine the effects of the introduction of the 20-m right-of-way into the deer yard. The study was designed to determine the effects of the pipeline right-of-way on browse availability and deer movements throughout the yard. The deer wintering area was evaluated for browse availability prior to construction in 1991, and again in 1993 after pipeline construction and right-of-way restoration were completed. Track count surveys were performed prior to construction in 1991, and post-construction and restoration in 1993 and 1994 to determine effects on deer movements. The results of the surveys indicated the introduction of the right-of-way did not have a demonstrable short-term impact on browse availability or deer movements throughout the yard. Planted travel corridors appear to have had a beneficial effect on the willingness of deer to cross the right-of-way.

Keywords: White-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, wintering area, yard, right-of-way, browse, travel corridor, New York, Lewis County