On Saturday October 20th, about 20 volunteers from the Highlands Conservancy and the Friends of the 500th (Wildlife Refuge) gathered on the Freeland Run tract of the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge to erect a deer exclosure fence. This exclosure will demonstrate the effects of over-browsing and protect the dwindling stand of balsam fir. Blue skies and warm weather greeted us as we met at 9 AM. Wildlife biologist Ken Sturm had all the materials ready for us as we began drilling fence post holes with a power auger. We used 12 foot long 6x6 posts and 8 foot woven wire to build the structure. The Highlands Conservancy provided the volunteers with beverages and pizza from Sirianni's Restaurant in Davis. From digging holes, setting posts, building corner braces and hanging the wire, there was plenty of work to keep everyone busy.

We hope that by keeping the deer from browsing on the young fir trees a new generation of trees will grow up to replace the mature trees which have been negatively impacted by the Balsam Woolly Adelgid. This exotic insect infests mature trees and eventually kills them. Because of the overpopulation of white-tailed deer, there has been inadequate regeneration for stand replacement. Thanks to everyone who came out to help. We hope to build some more of these exclosures in the future.