Mayor Walsh Announces Deer Management to Start January 6
Published on January 02, 2025
Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh announced deer management carried out by qualified wildlife managers from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin the week of Jan. 6, 2025 and continue through the winter. The City of Syracuse will be one of several local municipalities completing deer damage management with the USDA this winter.
The City is continuing targeted removal of deer this season in response to public health and safety concerns. The purpose of the program is to address the impact of deer overpopulation on deer-vehicle accidents; parks, gardens, and the ecosystem; and public health risks, such as Lyme Disease.
The City has issued a frequently asked question sheet, “What Syracuse residents should know about Deer Damage Management.” The sheet is available at
goto.syr.gov/factsheet-tickanddeer or by calling the Syracuse Parks Department at (315) 473-4330. More information about Syracuse’s Tick and Deer Management Plan is at
syr.gov/tickanddeer.
Suitable sites meeting strict New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) criteria were identified on the east, west and south sides of the city. Only DEC permitted sites where explicit written permission from the property owners have been provided will be accessed. All sites are either private or closed to public access when work is conducted.
Specially trained USDA wildlife managers will conduct the work only at night, between the hours of dusk to dawn. All sites are closed to public access when work is conducted. In 2025, the City plans to conduct a pilot program using the “trap and euthanize” deer management method. The pilot will be limited to private resident properties on the eastside where significant deer overpopulation continues.
No wildlife management officer should be accessing private property without permission. Residents should call 911 if you see suspicious activity on public or private property at any time. Work will be conducted January through March 2025.
City funding for implementation of the Tick and Deer Management Plan is authorized by the Syracuse Common Council. Primary funding is provided by Onondaga County with support from County Executive J. Ryan McMahon, II and the Onondaga County Legislature.