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Village of Cayuga Heights Spends $148k to Sterilize 137 Deer

Friday, January 18, 2013

The Tompkins County Village of Cayuga Heights has implemented it deer sterilization program in order to control a burgeoning deer population 90% of the deer in that area have been sterilized.

From Dec. 1st to 15th contractors used using drop nets and tranquilizer darts to catch 137 deer, so far at least five deer have died either during capture or after the sterilization was performed.

It cost about a thousand dollars per deer for the procedure; so far the program has cost taxpayers over $148 thousand dollars.

The sterilization program is an attempt to control the deer population following numerous deer and vehicle collisions, and damage to homeowners gardens and plantings.

The village initially considered hiring sharp shooters to kill some of the deer, which would cost less money, but because several property would not grant permission to shoot deer on their property the approach was deemed ineffective.

Village Mayor Kate Supron said the village has hired Cornell University to conduct a deer population survey to determine the effectiveness of the sterilization work, that study is expected to cost $28,000 to $30,000.