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The city of Syracuse is proposing a new way to reduce deer populations.

Two deer wander through a grassy forest.
Department of Agriculture and Markets
/
agriculture.ny.gov
Two deer wander through a grassy forest.

The city says the overpopulation of deer leads to increased tick-borne illnesses, an elevated numbers of deer caused motor vehicle accidents, as well as ecosystem damage.

Currently, Syracuse uses trained sharpshooters and hunters to manage deer populations. Since there are areas where they can’t use sharpshooters…the new pilot plan is to trap and euthanize deer.

The proposal goes before the Common Council on Wednesday, September 11 at 10:00 a.m. The Parks Department can be reached by phone at (315) 473-4330 or by email at parks@syrgov.net by property owners wishing to be considered for the deer management program.

Bob Beck, a veteran media professional, currently serves as a part-time editor/host at WAER Public Radio and an adjunct professor at Syracuse University. Beck retired as News Director at Wyoming Public Radio in 2022 after 34 years. During his time, Beck won 5 regional Edward R. Murrow awards and 5 Public Media Journalists Association awards for reporting. He also won 11 PMJA awards for the news and public affairs program Open Spaces. He was awarded the Wyoming School Bell award for education reporting and was part of two Emmy Award winning television productions. You can find him on X under the name @butterbob.