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NYC Parks Will Vasectomize Staten Island's "Exploding" Deer Population
By
Emma Whitford
Published May 10, 2016
Modified May 10, 2016
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By
Emma Whitford
Published May 10, 2016
Modified May 10, 2016
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There are a lot of deer on Staten Island. So many, that Borough President James Oddo took personal offense when two of them were unceremoniously dumped on his soil last fall. "We already have an exploding deer population approaching crisis proportions, and to release more deer into this overcrowded herd is unconscionable," he said.
A 2014 study counted 763 deer total on the island. That comes out to about 42 deer per square mile.
To combat the crisis, NYC Parks today announced plans to vasectomize every single male deer as soon as this coming fall, assuming the State's approval. The surgical approach to crowd control would be carried out over three years, and is expected to reduce the borough's herd by between 10-30%.
As recently as 2008, there were only 24 deer in the entire borough. Experts say the population exploded from just a handful—"presumed to have swum from New Jersey," according to the City—in part because Staten Island doesn't harbor any deer predators.
And as benign and bumbling as they may seem, deer can wreck havoc. Not only do they get in the way of cars—the Advance reports that there were 40 deer collisions on Staten Island last year—but they've been known to spread tick-borne illnesses like lyme disease, and stilt tree growth.
Parks also plans to install new fencing around Staten Island forest land, and launch a public awareness campaign about health risks associated with tics, as well as safe driving practices on deer-heavy roadways.
As recently as March, Mayor de Blasio had not ruled out the possibility of population control by poison, rather than sterilization. The lethal approach has been strongly opposed by the developer-backed anti-horse-carriage-industry group New Yorkers for Clean, Livable and Safe Streets (NYCLASS), which donated $100,000 to Mayor de Blasio's now-disbanded Campaign For One New York, and was recently subpoenaed.
The connection didn't get past reporters at a tense media availability this afternoon, where the mayor took questions about his recently-scrutinized fundraising efforts.
"It [vasectomy] is a smart plan," de Blasio said. "It's very consistent with the most modern, humane treatment of animals."
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