IRONDEQUOIT, N.Y. (WROC) — The Irondequoit Police Department has started their deer management program. The program was created in 1996 by the DEC to help minimize some of the deer population and the dangers that come along with an excessive deer population, such as deer-car motor vehicle accidents and spreading Lyme disease.
“The town itself is kind of unique in the fact that we are bordered on three sides by water and on our south side, by the city of Rochester. The deer kind of just stay here and continue to reproduce and that’s why we have the large numbers we have here,” says Lieutenant Joe Coon of the Irondequoit Police Department.
Before heading out, hunters must make sure that they are registered for the program.
“The hunters apply to be a part of the program. We put them through a proficiency test in order to qualify to be a member,” Coon says.
The Irondequoit Police Department and the DEC will work hand in hand throughout the duration of this program to manage the deer population around town.