By Nick Norlen, Staff Writer
Boasting an 82-percent reduction in deer-car collisions since its inception, Princeton Township’s annual deer management program will begin its eighth year Feb. 15 and run through March 31, the township announced this week.
The culling program — approved by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife and intended to reduce deer-related accidents and overpopulation — will be carried out by Connecticut-based contractor White Buffalo Inc., which killed 126 deer last year, at a cost of $54,250.
Though the permit granted to the township allows the three strategies used in past years — sharpshooting, birth control, and the controversial “net and bolt” method — the township only plans to utilize sharpshooters this year, as well as the free services of the United Bowhunters of New Jersey, according to Township Administrator Jim Pascale.
Mr. Pascale said the population in the areas that have seen use of the net and bolt method — which employs lethal bolt guns, instead of rifles, in residential areas — has been dropped to the township’s target number, which is 20 deer per square mile.
The birth control program is still in effect, but booster shots aren’t needed until the fall, he said.
Mr. Pascale said the township has been pleased with the effectiveness of the program, citing an 82 percent drop — from 342 to 62 — in deer-related motor vehicle accidents since its inception.
Though the controversy that followed the program when it first begun — opposition and lawsuits from animal rights activists — has faded, a new issue arose this August when members of the Township Committee expressed disagreement with the requirement to allow the United Bowhunters to participate in the program, as they have since 2004.
At the time, Township Deputy Mayor Bernie Miller characterized the annual contract for the bowhunters, who are not compensated, as “blackmail” due to the fact that the Division of Fish and Wildlife would likely not approve the program without their participation.
Mr. Miller criticized the bowhunters for not being effective and said their methods pose safety risks to park users.
However, Animal Control Officer Mark Johnson said that the bowhunters, who hunt in tree stands, are required to mark their trees and to be a minimum of 30 yards from any trail.
Ultimately, committee members reluctantly approved the contract, citing support for the program as a whole.
This year, the culling will be carried out in the Mercer County Herrontown Woods Arboretum, Gulick Farm, Greenway Meadows, and portions of Mountain Lakes Reserve, Coventry Farm and the Historic Overlook and surrounding areas near Stony Brook and Quaker Road, according to the township.
Operations in areas that are open to the public will take place only after the parks close at dusk and will be completed before they reopen, according to the township.Township Police Chief Mark Emann said police plan to supervise the operations by patrolling the areas to ensure residents’ safety.
He said he doesn’t anticipate any problems, and personally vouched for the safety and success of the program.
”We’ve definitely seen the results with the program with much fewer deer-car collisions,” he said.”As an avid motorcyclist, I feel much safer as I ride through Princeton.”
