Bowhunters May Be Hired To Kill Coyotes, Deer In One Bergen County Town

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — One Bergen County borough will vote Monday night on a contract to use bowhunters to decrease the population of deer and coyotes, but a member of the public called the plan "cruel" Monday.

The Borough Council of Saddle River has placed a contract with United Bowhunters — a state non-profit organization — on the agenda for its 7 p.m. meeting Monday.

The resolution says the borough "has a concern as to the overall deer and coyote population and its effect on the health and safety of the residents of the Borough of Saddle River as well as those who travel through the Borough."

UBNJ, based in Spotswood, will conduct a deer and coyote "cull," or organized hunt, to thin the population.

The cull program was temporarily suspended last year to evaluate its impact, according to a 2023 story in the Record.

A website called Keep Saddle River Safe said a local group recommended pausing the cull program back in 2020.

Other towns and counties have conducted culls, such as Essex County, but these programs often draw criticism from animal activists.

Seven years ago, a group of "aggressive" coyotes surrounded a dog walker in Saddle River, said news reports at the time.

The seven-member mayor and council only need to take one vote to approve the contract.

See the agenda and information on attending the meeting here.