Activists To Protest Village Considering Hunters To Reduce Deer

A local activist group will protest the Village of Port Jefferson for considering using hunters to reduce its deer population.

Long Island Orchestrating for Nature will protest outside Port Jefferson Village Hall at 6 p.m. on May 8.

Last month, the village announced it was considering hiring hunters from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to reduce the population after the summer season.

"Port Jefferson officials are considering hiring the USDA to slaughter potentially hundreds of deer, however, lethal methods of population control are not only inhumane, but often ineffective as their high reproductive rate can quickly compensate for declines in population. Port Jefferson could and should should use non-palatable plants, deterrent tools, and immunocontraception to humanely manage deer," the group said on Facebook.

According to the USDA, it costs about $50,000 a year and the venison from the deer is donated to local food banks.

On April 11, the village hosted an educational forum for residents on the overabundance of deer.