Essex County Releases Roadkill Removal Totals

More than 1,800 deceased deer have been removed from county roads since 2007, according to Essex County officials.

According to a release, the county has been attempting to reduce the number of motor vehicles involving deer as part of its Deer Management Program. Through a pilot program with the New Jersey Department of Transportation, Essex County received grant money to install detection devices that reflect motor vehicle headlights and emit a high-pitched noise to scare deer away from the road when cars approach.

The reflectors are installed along Cherry Lane, Brookside Drive, JFK Parkway and Parsonage Hill Road in Millburn, Livingston and West Orange, stated a release.

Officials recently announced that during the county’s annual deer cull, also part of its Deer Management Program, marksmen shot 70 animals this year. [See related story]

The county released the following yearly totals of deer carcasses removed from county roads:

· 2014: 251 deer

· 2013: 222 deer

· 2012: 201 deer

· 2011: 233 deer

· 2010: 229 deer

· 2009: 284 deer

· 2008: 363 deer

· 2007: 303 deer

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