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Westchester Officials Present Informational Forum On Deer Management

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. -- Westchester officials will host an informational forum, “Strategies for Deer Management in Westchester’s Suburban Communities,”  on Thursday, April 30, for municipal officials, land managers and other stakeholders

Photo Credit: noble.org

The forum will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Westchester County Center in White Plains. 

“It is clear that there is no easy answer to the challenges that land managers face with the growing presence of deer in our area,” County Executive Rob Astorino said. “Under the direction of the county’s Parks Department, we are bringing together a variety of experts to discuss best practices and the experience of other municipalities.”

The morning sessions will begin with an overview of the history of deer populations in New York State, presented by Rod Christie, executive director of Mianus River Gorge Preserve. Bernd Blossy, an associate professor at Cornell University, will discuss defining and measuring success of deer management efforts. Kevin Clarke, a senior wildlife biologist from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), will discuss management efforts in the state’s region 3-S, which includes Westchester County.

William C. Harding, executive director of the Watershed Council of the New York State Department of State, will start off the afternoon sessions by introducing regional approaches to deer management. Specific methodologies will be outlined by four speakers: Laura Simon of the Humane Society of the United States (non-lethal methods); Allan Rutberg, Tufts University (contraception); NYSDEC’s Clarke (hunting); and Ken Preusser, US Department of Agriculture (culling).

Examples of deer management methods used in municipalities will be presented by Pound Ridge Police Chief Dave Ryan; Dan Aitchison, a senior curator with Westchester County Parks; Kevin Carter and Michael J. Rubbo, both representing Teatown Lake Reservation.

Both the morning and afternoon sessions will conclude with a panel discussion and an opportunity for participants to ask questions.

The symposium is sponsored by Westchester County Parks Department.

Admission is free but advance registration is required. 

 For more information or to register for the symposium, call Jason Klein at the Trailside Nature Museum at 914-864-7322.

The Westchester County Center is at 198 Central Park Avenue in White Plains. Parking is $7 in the County Center lots.

           

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