New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (D-Sag Harbor) today announced that legislation he sponsors with State Senator Anthony Palumbo, directing the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to establish a Long Island Deer Management Pilot Program for the Town of Southold, was signed into law by Governor Hochul as Chapter #704 of the Laws of 2023.

The Town of Southold is experiencing a dramatic increase in deer population that has led to an unacceptable rise in deer-vehicle accidents, tick-borne illness, and ecological devastation. This new law will augment the Town of Southold’s ongoing efforts to control the deer population by granting the Town new authority to further mitigate this crisis consistent with the State Deer Management Plan. Similar legislation was also enacted to address the rapid growth in deer population in the City of Syracuse.

Assemblyman Thiele stated, “The overpopulation of white-tailed deer on eastern Long Island threatens public health and safety, personal property, the agricultural economy, and the environment. The Town of Southold has undertaken a community-wide effort to develop a plan to address these adverse impacts. The Town is to be commended for working on the grassroots level to develop a consensus for action consistent with the State 10-year Deer Management Plan. I was pleased to work together with the Town to draft the state legislation needed to implement the Town's plan. I commend the Governor for enacting this new law that will keep the population of deer at a sustainable level in a safe and effective manner.I am hopeful that Southold's program will help to develop effective management tools that can be used to provide relief in other affected areas of the State.”