NEW YORK – NYCLASS today hailed the city’s new policy to control the deer population on Staten Island as smart, effective, and humane. The city Parks Department announced yesterday that they will sterilize hundreds of male deer as part of their effort to control and, ultimately, reduce the deer’s spiking numbers. NYCLASS, which had been urging city officials to provide birth control to deer, called on state officials to approve the policy immediately so that city officials can prepare to implement it.

“This new policy is smart, effective and humane – and state officials should approve it so the city can get to work to keep both animals and New Yorkers safe,” said NYCLASS Executive Director Allie Taylor. “A spiking deer population in any environment is dangerous, let alone in an urban one. Other recommendations for controlling deer populations, such as hunting, were neither effective nor humane. Mayor de Blasio and parks officials have stepped up and smartly promoted a humane way of living with wildlife. Not only should the state approve it, the state should adopt this plan as a model for dealing with similar situations in every corner of New York.”

"We would like to thank Mayor Bill de Blasio, Staten Island Borough President Jimmy Oddo, Council Member Debi Rose, Council Member Steve Matteo, Council Member Joe Borelli, Assembly Member Nicole Malliotakis and Assembly Member Matthew Titone for championing this compassionate and humane plan for the deer."

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