Deer prefer to eat succulent ornamental plants, and their population density has grown quite large where abundant food and shelter is available in communities.
Where unnaturally large populations of deer are able to thrive, even native plants are showing signs of distress.
Deer easily overturn garbage containers and spread litter, which attracts rats and other rodents.
Deer can be dangerous, especially during rut.
Please help keep our
Fire Island wildlife wild—Never Feed Deer.
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A first-time visitor to Fire Island is probably thrilled to see the seemingly tame deer on the island. However, these deer are potentially dangerous wild animals, posing both health and safety risks for humans. The number of deer on some parts of Fire Island is believed to be at an unhealthy density, which also puts pressure on other animal and plant populations.
Almost forty years of vegetation studies in Fire Island’s Sunken Forest reveal an alarming reduction in the number of herbaceous plants and small trees in the understory of this rare maritime forest. Some scientists are concerned that the century-old holly, sassafras, black cherry, black gum and other trees may not be able to regenerate. The lack of establishment of new seedlings coincides with the implementation of wildlife protection policies on Fire Island in the 1970s.
In 1974, Fire Island’s deer herd was estimated at 50 individuals; by 1989, it was close to 500. From population density studies conducted over the past five years, it is estimated that 500-700 deer live on Fire Island. Average density varies widely between locations.
2002 Estimates:
- Robert Moses State Park
18 deer/km2
- Lighthouse Tract
60 deer/km2 - Kismet-Lonelyville
44 deer/km2
- Ocean Bay Park/Seaview
65 deer/km2
- Fire Island Pines
75 deer/km2
- Davis Park
68 deer/km2
- Fire Island Wilderness
30 deer/km2
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For the past ten years, the National Park Service has conducted a research project cooperatively with university scientists from SUNY Syracuse, the Humane Society of the United States, and several communities to determine whether an immunocontraceptive vaccine can be useful at Fire Island as a deer management tool. In September, bait stations are set up to lure deer into appropriate areas. Female deer are darted with PZP (porcine zona pellucida), which prevents does from becoming pregnant.
The National Park Service expects to begin the processes necessary to develop a deer management plan, relying on the research information accumulated to date from both of these projects. The park’s objective is to determine what management actions are needed in order to keep the deer population within a range that will not significantly impact natural populations of vegetation within the boundaries of the park.
For a more information:
Please see the brochure "Deer and People" and the 2005 Science Conference Abstracts. H. B. Underwood's complete document White-tailed Deer Ecology and Management on Fire Island National Seashore
(Fire Island National Seashore Science Synthesis Paper), Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR—2005/022,
National Park Service. Boston, MA, September 2005, is available as a pdf document (35 pages).
For the safety of your pet, the park's resources, and other visitors your pet must be kept on leash and under control. Leashes must be six feet in length or less, which decreases the chance of a dangerous encounter with wildlife.
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