BATAVIA, N.Y. — The City of Batavia is calling on residents to join its deer management committee. The committee will work with the city council, and the state, to solve what it suspects is deer overpopulation.
Martin Moore, the City Manager, said residents have come to the council saying the deer have gotten too close for comfort.
"They've gone from being concerned about their bushes to concerned about direct interactions," said Moore.
Steven Grice, a towing operations manager in Batavia, said he's noticed a difference this season too. He's been in the towing business for seven years and said this is the worst year he's seen for deer collisions.
"Last Saturday we had four in one day," Grice said.
He works for Dan's Tire and Auto and said the company has responded to 31 deer collisions this month alone, averaging to more than one a day.
Moore said the goal is to have a finalized plan in six months. Until then, the city is working with the New York State DEC on temporary solutions, one possible one involves licensed hunters.
"There are some areas in the city that meet what they call the setback requirements," Moore said. "They're away from houses, they're in wooded areas, where archery might be effective."
Moore said, however, that he prefers plans that don't use firearms.
Any resident in the City of Batavia can apply to be on the committee here.
