Background
The City of Syracuse, working with neighborhood residents and community stakeholders, adopted an integrated Tick and Deer Management Plan in 2019.
City funding for implementation of the Tick and Deer Management Plan is authorized by the Syracuse Common Council. Primary funding is provided by Onondaga County.
Goals
The City undertakes targeted removal of deer 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.
Project Sites
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.
- Only DEC permitted sites where explicit written permission from the property owners have been provided will be accessed.
- The sites are required to be at least 250 feet from any occupied dwelling.
- All sites are either private or closed to public access when work is conducted.
In 2024 -25, the city plans to conduct a pilot program using the ‘Trap and Euthanize’ method at private properties on Syracuse’s East Side. The method is permitted by the NYSDEC.