NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y. (AP) — A western New York city is bringing back a bait-and-shoot program to reduce a surging deer population that's causing damage to property and hazards to motorists.
The city of North Tonawanda used the technique from 2004 to 2008 to reduce the deer herd. Now residents are complaining again about too many deer.
According to the Niagara Gazette, the program will be conducted by four police SWAT team members between October and March in two undisclosed locations.
Alderman Eric Zadzilka said the city had 77 car-deer collisions in 2003, and only 17 the following year after the deer reduction program was initiated.
Mayor Rob Ortt says meat from deer killed through the program will be donated to the Food Bank of Western New York.
