Photo by Diane Abell

Deer can be dangerous, especially during rut.

White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus

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.

More than 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 American 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, and in 2003 it was estimated to be 500-700. From population density studies conducted over the past seven years, it is estimated that 300-500 deer now live on Fire Island.

Average deer density varies widely between locations.

• 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

Deer prefer to eat succulent ornamental plants, and their population density has grown quite large where abundant food and shelter is available in communities.

Since 1993, the National Park Service has conducted a research project cooperatively with university scientists from SUNY Syracuse, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), 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.

In February 2006, in order to study the efficacy of administering PZP at alternate times, Fire Island National Seashore and HSUS initiated a winter deer-darting operation throughout the mid-island communities of Corneille Estates to Sailors Haven. In September 2006, darting was again conducted in the western communities. A winter darting program was conducted again in 2007. 

During winter 2006, a total of 75 vaccines were successfully administered during a four-week effort. For winter 2007, a total of 72 PZP vaccines were successfully administered during a five-week effort.

The National Park Service continues to gather data necessary for the possible development of a deer management plan.

Where unnaturally large populations of deer are able to thrive, even native plants are showing signs of distress.

Whenever possible, natural processes are relied upon to maintain native plant and animal species and influence natural fluctuations in populations of these species. The National Park Service may intervene when certain criteria are met. (2006 Management Policies, Chapter 4, Section 4.4.2)

Fire Island National Seashore’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.

Fire Island National Seashore is also one of the parks in NPS Northeast Region that is currently hosting a research project relating to human-wildlife interactions. Cornell University's Deer, People and Parks web page provides updates as this study progresses. 

Deer easily overturn garbage containers and spread litter, which attracts rats and other rodents that may transmit diseases to people.

The National Park Service is concerned about the health, safety and welfare of both animals and people.

The long-standing tradition of feeding deer by people on Fire Island is not in the animals' best interest. Deer behavior and population dynamics—and possibly their susceptibility to chronic wasting disease (CWD)—are adversely affected by deer being fed by humans.

As a primary host for adult ticks, deer play an indirect role in the transmission of Lyme disease to people. 

Please help keep our Fire Island wildlife wild—Never Feed Deer.

You may check the 2002 brochure "Deer and People" and recent Fire Island National Seashore science conference abstracts for more information:

• 2007 Science Conference Abstracts
• 2005 Science Conference Abstracts 

NPS Technical Reports:

• 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).
  
• Density and Herd Composition of White-tailed Deer Populations on Fire Island National Seashore by H. Brian Underwood, Frank D. Verret and James P. Fischer, Technical Report NPS/NESO-RNR/NRTR/98-4, National Park Service, MA, June 1998 (62 pages).
  

Cornell University's Deer, People, and Parks reports:

• Perspectives of Residents in Communities Near Fire Island National Seashore by William F. Siemer, Kirsten M. Leong, Daniel J. Decker and Karlene K. Smith, HDRU Series No. 07-8, Human Dimensions Research Unit, Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University,
  December 2007  (70 pages)
  
• Identifying Capacity for Local Community Participation in Wildlife Management Planning; Case 1: White-tailed Deer Issues at Fire Island National Seashore by Kirsten M. Leong and Daniel J. Decker, HDRU Series No. 07-1, Human Dimensions Research Unit, Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University,
  February 2007  (39 pages)

For the safety of your pet, the park's resources, and other visitors, you must keep your pet on a leash and under control. Leashes must be six feet in length or less, which decreases the chance of a dangerous encounter with wildlife.