Living along a rural section of Darby Creek and seeing deer in his back yard sparked Ewen Levick’s interest in the damage their overpopulation has caused to the vegetation in Valley Forge National Park. Through his investigation, Ewen learned that the Park was monitoring the deer but had not yet instituted controls. Fencing had been put up along park borders to keep deer off of private residences but this didn’t solve the problem within the park. So Ewen researched deer management practices and interviewed Waterloo Mills Preserve Manager John Fryberger. With teacher Banny Ackerman and classmates, he visited the park during after-school hours. Sometimes they observed as many as 60 deer in one field at a time. Having no fear of humans, the deer could be approached within mere feet.
Based on his research, observations, the deer control experience of Waterloo Mills and consideration of sterilization controls, Ewen proposed a solution. He concluded that a low power bow and arrow hunt by proficient hunters who would pay for the priveledge of hunting the deer would be the most economical and effective means of controlling the deer population.
Ewen is now preparing a proposal to present to the Park manager which sets forth his research and ideas for restoring the under story in the park through deer population controls.