A bill aiming to help mitigate the negative effects of deer overpopulation statewide recently passed the State Legislature and is awaiting action by the governor.
According to Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr., a co-sponsor of the bill, deer overpopulation leads to increased levels of traffic accidents and home property damage, and helps facilitate the spread of tick-borne illnesses. The bill was approved in the Assembly, 131-1.
The legislation would require the State Department of Environmental Conservation to prepare a report regarding deer management techniques in urban and suburban areas of the state, which must comply with a set of specific criteria.
As part of the legislation, the DEC report must evaluate alternative methods for population control other than traditional hunting, such as euthanasia, capture and removal, and sterilization. In addition, the DEC would evaluate methods to mitigate crop and vegetation damage caused by deer, and property damage, such as vehicle collisions.
The report would also identify areas of the state with high concentrations of deer populations, how best to minimize conflict between deer and humans, and how to reduce the spread of illnesses linked to deer populations, such as Lyme disease.
In a prepared statement, Mr. Thiele justified the need for legislation by pointing out the limited power that local governments and organizations have when addressing deer overpopulation. “While local governments and communities should have the last word about what happens in their communities … only the DEC has the resources to address this matter statewide,” he said.
The bill is now before Governor Andrew Cuomo for consideration.
Staff Writer on Oct 24, 2017