Syracuse deer-management program gets underway

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The City of Syracuse deer-management program involving sharpshooters from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) started during the week of Dec. 6 and will continue through next March.

The City of Syracuse will be one of several municipalities across the county completing deer-damage management with the USDA this winter, the office of Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said.

The city is again undertaking targeted removal of deer this season in response to public health and safety concerns. The purpose of the program is to address the impact of deer overpopulation on deer-vehicle accidents; parks, gardens, and the ecosystem; and public-health risks, such as Lyme Disease.

Suitable sites meeting strict New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) criteria were identified on the east, west and south sides of the city. All of the locations are on large private and city-owned properties. 

Those involved will conduct their work only on DEC permitted sites where the property owners have provided written permission, Walsh’s office said. The sites are required to be at least 500 feet from any occupied dwelling. All sites are either private or closed to public access when work is conducted.

Specially trained USDA wildlife managers will conduct the work only at night, between the hours of dusk to dawn. They will work from December through March.

No wildlife-management officer should be accessing private property without permission. Residents should call 911 if you see suspicious activity on public or private property at any time. 

Onondaga County has provided funding for implementation of the tick and deer-management plan.

The city has issued a frequently asked question sheet, “What Syracuse residents should know about Deer Damage Management.” It is available at https://bit.ly/syrdeermgmt-facts2021 or by calling the Syracuse Parks Department at (315) 473-4330.