Deer Elimination Plan Causes Controversy on Long Island

John Mitty Sunday, December 22, 2013

If you live on Long Island, you probably have been inconvenienced by a deer at some point.  The population estimate by government officials for deer on Long Island is around 25,000-35,000. Long Island deer damage gardens, run in front of cars, and carry ticks.  As a result, the Long Island Farm Bureau and the United States Department of Agriculture have declared that the deer are pests, and that 2,000-3,000 deer should be eliminated (regardless, apparently, of the real number of actual deer present in the existing population).

If the plan goes through, the deer will be shot at night by sharpshooters with noise suppressors.  The deer will be lured in by apples and corn and then killed on sight.  Many residents are upset by the plan.  “These are beautiful, gentle creatures who have no voice,” said one resident, Ron Delsener.  An online petition has already drawn over 8,000 signatures, not only from Long Islanders, but also from distant supporters in other states and countries, even so far as Argentina and Portugal.  Laura Simon, an ecologist at the Humane Society, points out also that the plan will not work because thinning herds tend to produce more offspring.  As a result, this plan could backfire and result in an increase of deer in the coming years. 

Many of the farmers and gardeners complaining about the deer have refused to put up fencing around their properties, often for reasons of aesthetics.  If the officials do decide to kill the deer, the venison will be given to food pantries.  

 

 

jmitty@longislandyellowpages.com

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