Saddle River Votes on Referendum for Deer Problem
On the Nov. 8th voting day, Saddle River residents voted for 2 referendums on the town’s ongoing issue with the expanding deer population.
The referendum known as resolution R#130-16 “Resolution Authorizing Referendum Ballot Question Regarding Potential Deer Population Management Policies in the Borough of Saddle River” tried to gather the town’s opinion on the deer overpopulation and decide on next steps to address. The ballot had 2 yes or no questions that town voters could choose from. Both were favored on the vote.
The first question asked if the Borough of Saddle River should adopt a deer management policy with the use of NON-LETHAL methods, which passed 715 yes to 457 no.
The second question asked if the Borough of Saddle River should adopt a deer management policy with the use of LETHAL methods. This passed also on the count of 582 to 544. Lethal methods would include allowing licensed hunters to come onto private properties and shoot the deer.
Non-lethal would be on the ground vasectomies on the deer, which would be very difficult and costly for the town. Some Doctors have volunteered their time and resources for free to perform the vasectomies.
The town awaits the Town Council’s next steps moving forward.
We are over run with deer in Saddle River. 19 years ago you rarely saw them and it was cute. 10 years later it started to be a problem, today it is an epidemic. They have 2 and 3 babies each. They estimate we have over 400 deer in town conservatively that was a few years ago. Do the math people…not thinning the herd is just irresponsible governance…. No one loves animals more than I. Not addressing the problem is more cruel to the animals than thinning the herd. The question on the referendum was confusing and most residents votes on both questions as I did. Yes on both that is why the poll numbers are so in favor of Non-Lethal. Intelligent people want a solution on both sides. Cull and then implement birth control measures, it is the most logical solution. I for one and sick of seeing dead animals on the sides and middle of the roadways. Now they don’t pick them up anymore they let them decompose in the road. That to me is horrific . I am tired of this subject already for 3 years our Town meetings have been hijacked by deer people, wasting our borough tax payer dollars with Opra requests and phone calls preventing our Town from addressing other important issues. I wish this crew would focus on all the stray cats and dogs with their determination we could get a handle on that growing epidemic.
The epidemic is caused by human beings with their own hands not by The animals. Stop overpopulating and destroying their habitats and being a hypocrite by saying that they are overpopulated when you take away their homes to put your up yours. You kill them you increase their fertility. Learn to live with them or go live someplace else if you don’t like your own environment that you created yourself.
Bringing in Hunters and paying them salery to kill in your neighborhood is pure insanity!
Once you start seeing injuries and deaths secondary to what’s going on, in an Anarchic Society, then you will realize the catastrophic environment you have created for yourself and others in town. As for dead animals on the road, start driving slower not 50 miles an hour in a 40 mile-an-hour zone. Change the speed limit learn to drive slow. It is for your own sake and the animals who live within.