DAMAGE BY DEER

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30977, 5 February 1966, Page 24

DAMAGE BY DEER

Discovery In Otira Area A great amount of forest damage, caused by deer and opossum, was found by members of tl 3 Canterbury branch of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society on a trip to Kelly Creek, near Otira, last week-end. In one area, known to be heavily infested with deer, the forest floor was completely bared by concentrated d«r grazing. Apart from this, however, the forest appeared to be very rich in growth. On Saturday the group tramped to Carroll hut and saw podoearp-kamahi-rata forest changing into subalpine forest and scrubland and then into alpine snow tussock. The group observed many birds, including tuis, bellbirds, fantails, riflemen and native pigeons. The most important sightings were of kakas and yellow-fronted parakeets, both of which were seen at close quarters. Many interesting forest plants were found, among them two species of orchid, the native iris, speargrass, a Maori onion, two species of sundew, and a scarlet stinkhorn. The party of 12, most of whom were teen-agers, was led by Mr N. C. Lambrechtsen.