Forest Lawn Cemetery is reducing its deer population to address malnutrition and environmental damage, with state-approved efforts in place.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Forest Lawn Cemetery is moving forward with a state-approved effort to reduce its deer population after officials said the growing number of animals has led to malnutrition, injuries, and environmental damage.

According to cemetery officials, the deer population has increased in recent years, leaving many animals in poor condition. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued a deer damage permit after an inspection found “too many deer to maintain a healthy population.”

Officials said the overpopulation has harmed trees, plants, and other wildlife habitat within the cemetery.

The plan has drawn some concern from community members who question whether removal is the best approach.

“I’m not sure that that’s the best solution,” Buffalo resident Larkin Greaves said. “I feel like relocation or maybe introducing a new population, if they’re that worried about the inbreeding would be a good idea, or possibly blunting the tips of the fences so they don’t end up impaling themselves on it.”

The DEC emphasized that only some deer have been removed and “none have been euthanized at the site.”

Forest Lawn officials said they are working with the state “to maintain a sustainable environment for both wildlife and visitors.”

The cemetery issued a statement to 2 On Your Side, saying in full:

Forest Lawn is an active cemetery, and although not a wildlife refuge, hosts a variety of migratory wildlife.  In recent years, as the deer population across Western New York has grown, we have seen a significant increase in the number of deer within the gates of Forest Lawn. With that has come an increase in reports from visitors and our dedicated staff regarding injured, malnourished or otherwise afflicted deer, as there is a limited number that can survive within this space.  So, we work closely with the state Department of Environmental Conservation to address these reports and create a hospitable and sustainable environment for all wildlife in Forest Lawn.

2 On Your Side also reached out to the DEC, which issued this statement:

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) works with concerned property owners and managers to address wildlife management issues, including deer overpopulation.

Deer are a prolific species, adapted for high mortality and heavy predation pressure. When there is a lack of predation, deer populations can quickly grow to unsustainable levels. 

Based on overabundance of deer at Forest Lawn resulting in destruction of native landscape plantings, trees, and other wildlife habitat, cemetery officials submitted an application for a Deer Damage Permit (DDP). DDPs are issued in situations where deer harvest during hunting seasons is insufficient to reduce the negative impacts of overabundant deer populations.

DEC conducted an on-site inspection at Forest Lawn and determined the deer density to be unsustainable for maintaining a healthy deer population. As the result of these issues — and the DEC site inspection — the Department issued a DDP to Forest Lawn for removal of some of the deer from the cemetery grounds. DEC has not euthanized any deer at this site.