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The City of Syracuse will begin its annual deer culling program on Monday (December 15), running through March 2026. The program aims to reduce deer-vehicle collisions, prevent destruction of green spaces, and lower the risk of tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease. Specially trained sharpshooters from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will conduct the culling at night in designated areas of the city, including the east, west, and south sides, with explicit permission from property owners.
The program, part of Syracuse's Tick and Deer Management Plan, is in its seventh year and is funded by the Syracuse Common Council and Onondaga County. Last year, 137 deer were culled, just shy of the 2019 record of 159. The venison from the culled deer is processed and donated to the Food Bank of Central New York, providing meals to local families.
While the program has broad support, some residents, like Meadowbrook's Nancy Larson, criticize it, preferring it be called a "deer killing program" rather than a management plan. Despite differing opinions, city officials, including Greg Loh, Syracuse's chief policy officer, emphasize the necessity of the culling due to ongoing deer overpopulation issues.
For more information, residents can refer to the city's FAQ sheet on deer management or contact the mayor's office.