Saturday
May 18, 2024 
The Sourland Conservancy is partnering with Duke Farms for the next “Talk of the Sourlands.”
The Duke Farms Deer Management Program (DMP) is one of the most successful in the state. Prior to 2004, exceedingly high resident deer herd densities on the Duke Farms property resulted in severe ecological degradation, native plant extirpation, and a dramatic loss of biodiversity.
Over the last two decades, Duke Farms has implemented a strategic, aggressive, and consistently applied combination of deer management strategies which has resulted in a prolific rebound of native plant communities and overall ecosystem health.
Join Mike Bellaus at 7 p.m. Oct. 12, to learn about the program’s inception, methodologies, and quantifiable results.
Bellaus has been professionally managing both flora and fauna for the purpose of ecological restoration for the last 13 years. He began his tenure at the 2,700-acre Duke Farms in 2013, where he is the manager of habitat restoration. Bellaus specializes in deer management with a focus on herd population reduction as well as deer management program creation and implementation.
Seating for the program is limited, but a hybrid model will be implemented, allowing participants to join from the comfort of their own homes.
Admission to all talks is free, but registration is required. Donations are always appreciated. Membership support and donations provide the resources for the Sourland Conservancy to create educational events like this. Register at: https://tinyurl.com/DukeFarmsDMPs.
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