STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — They. Are. Everywhere. Striding down the street at 3 a.m., inspecting my shrubbery, and appearing randomly throughout the day with quiet authority while I hike through the Greenbelt.
I speak their name — deer — with respect. With those antlers, their girth and their effortless leaps over six-foot spiky fences, they deserve it. And since deer don’t vote, I figured they were fair game — and a very good distraction after last week’s election.
With regular appearances of certain bucks, they’ve earned names. This may or may not be one named Brad. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
This mating season, a five- or six-point buck has become such a regular on my walks through Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden that I’ve named him Brad. And I am not afraid. My husband assures me Brad isn’t either — and that he won’t charge.
Moose will, on the other hand. But they haven’t swum across the Arthur Kill to populate us here — yet. Nature lovers say deer don’t see us as a threat. Normally, they’d be hiding. But when you’re super close, they just keep snacking and posing for photos like any food influencer would.
This untagged fellow appeared at about 4 p.m. on a recent weeknight at Snug Harbor. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)The boldness of Brad and friends
Their unabashed appearances tell me they’re here to multiply during rutting season.
New York farmers report $59 million in crop damage. And I’ve heard a few stories from local growers as well. That’s not just corn — it’s landscaping too, pumpkins, Thanksgiving decorations and what’s left of a vegetable garden. I guess that’s Brad and friends’ way of having a farm-to-table experience.
Deer collisions are a serious issue in New York, with more than 70,000 deer–vehicle accidents reported annually across the state — each causing an average of $4,000 in property damage. Not funny. Neither are the deaths caused by deer in the headlights.
Around noon on a recent Saturday, this deer drew a crowd near the Heritage Farm, where curious onlookers got up close for photos. Thankfully, the farm itself is safely enclosed by fencing.(Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
Also, deer aren’t just nibbling your hostas — they’re chewing up ecosystems. When there are too many, they mow down forests with a mission, wiping out understory plants and giving invasive species a leg up. Some greenery vanishes so completely it needs replanting decades later. As a result, our state’s wild ginseng might be gone by the next century.
How’d we get here? We nearly wiped deer out in the 1800s, felt bad, and launched conservation. Now, with no predators and suburbs serving as salad bars, we’ve got a deer boom so big even the deer are struggling. Overcrowding means scrawnier herds, more disease, and fewer snacks. Ironically, fewer deer mean healthier deer. It’s nature’s version of a wellness plan — minus the juice cleanse.
Red foxes at the Staten Island zoo make a yelping sound that is a cross between a “meow” and a “yip.” You’ll hear these creatures around Staten Island during mating season in winter. Silvestri
And about Lyme disease? Deer host ticks, but rodents are the real culprits. Think of deer as an Uber Eats driver with mice hitching a ride on the bumper. Want fewer ticks? Embrace our New York City fox and owl neighbors.
Don’t feed the wildlife
New York’s fix includes an alphabet soup of permits. There are Deer Management Permits (DMPs) for antlerless deer and Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) permits for landowners needing backup.
Before you get out the bow and arrow — hunting is illegal in most of New York City. For now we’ve just got to sort it all out by staying alert behind the wheel at dawn and dusk. We cannot feed them intentionally — you people who feed the wild turkeys on Staten Island know who you are — and I guess just embrace it.
So today, I’m going to finish with a little dramatic interpretation of me and Brad chatting it up. In my mind — because, let’s be honest, dude can’t hold a mic — and I can hold a food conversation in restaurant language.
Deer make occasional appearances at the 12-acre Decker Farm. Where there are deer there are ticks as well. Foxes are natural exterminators of the tick population. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel)
Me: So, how ‘bout those ticks?
Brad: [Scoffs] Lyme disease? Talk to the foxes. We’re just here for the ride.
Me: What’s up with eating my hostas? And can you leave my pumpkins be?
Brad: We were here first.
Me: Sausage?
Brad: [stares into the distance] No comment.
A buck of few words, especially when it comes to venison, the deer ultimately are more organized in this kind of conversation, naturally more photogenic — and definitely winning.
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