Bergen County Growing Deer Population Increases Risk of Accidents & Devastates Plant Life

Deer Population Increases Risk of Accidents & Devastates Plant Life

High numbers of grazing deer have devastated some parks and increased the risk of accidents, as reported by the Record .

Contractors hired by Bergen and Passaic counties picked up 734 dead deer on county roads last year. In Bergen county, which does not allow hunting, deer population explodes to unseen proportions.  Accidents involving deer and vehicles on state highways have increased 22 percent since 2005.

“We’re in a situation where our suburbs are overrun with deer. We need drastic action,” said Carole Stanko, deer projects leader with the state Division of Fish and Wildlife.

Deer have eaten away plants at forested Bergen County parks like the Greenbrook Sanctuary in Tenafly and the Flat Rock Brook Nature Center in Englewood.  However, population management techniques like controlled hunts have proved to be a hard sell for Bergen County residents.