North Fork Deer Forum Will Address Health, Environmental Impacts

SOUTHOLD, NY — Once again, town residents will gather for a deer forum to discuss an issue many say has posed a threat to public health and quality of life in Southold Town.

A deer forum will be held on Wed., Sept. 12 at 6:30 p.m in the Southold Town Hall meeting room.

According to the town's wildlife manager Craig Jobes, the goal of the forum is to address and educate the public on issues sparked by the overabundance of deer found locally.

"We feel that the acceptance of the deer problem and the willingness to do something about it has been growing around the town and we would like to help further these efforts by hopefully reaching out and touching more residents who may still be unsure," Jobes said.

Deer management in a location such as Southold Town can be difficult, due to the fact that a very large percentage of the town is privately owned, making it difficult to conduct deer management efforts, he said.

It's critical that any residents who are unsure of the problems caused by deer attend the meeting to learn more about how the local environment is being affected and what the community can do to help create change, he said.

The forum will include statistics and information about the town's hunting program. Guest speakers will include Sue Booth-Binczik, a wildlife biologist with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's division of fish and wildlife, who will discuss the impacts of an overabundance of deer on the environment, as well as management options.

Also speaking will be Allen Gosser, Wildlife Services State Director, United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, who will give a presentation on the USDA’s approach to deer damage management across the state of New York, as well as current legislation in place that constrict types deer management.

Thomas Rawinski, a botanist with the United States Forest Service, is slated to give a presentation on the negative effects that deer have on the surrounding ecosystem and plant life. For years Mr. Rawinski has been presenting his studies and findings all around the hortheast; he is currently working on a study in Southold Town with Jobes.

Patch file photo by Lisa Finn.