My name is Noa, and I am on the Deer Management Program. It is not the most well-known committee but it is incredibly important. It is very closely tied to the Environmental Commission in its efforts to protect Montgomery Township’s environment, but it focuses specifically on the issue of deer overpopulation, which is something that affects all of us. There are currently 12x too many deer per square mile in Montgomery than what is healthy for the forests, so the goal of the Program is to regulate this population. The most common solution that Montgomery and most other townships use is hunting, but some cities use a method to control the population that is less humane, which involves rounding up the deer and killing them in mass numbers. Montgomery does not participate in this, however, because in addition to being inhumane, it is very expensive. 
     The Program meets throughout the year—with hunters—to discuss the hunting season and the distribution of permits. The Program also deals with designating land that can be hunted on. There are specific rules about how far away hunters must be from residential and commercial areas, so the members ensure that each year is a safe hunting season. These are the main projects that are being worked on by the members of the Program. Although hunting is the only method that is currently being used to control the deer population, the members of the Program are always coming up with new solutions that will allow the township to control the population without killing the deer. This is another important project that is always in progress. A misconception about hunting is that it is inhumane, but, when done sustainably, it can actually be very good for the community. Most hunters donate their meat to the communal food pantry, which gives the meat to people who need it. The meat can also be stored for a long time because there is a specific freezer for the deer that are hunted in Montgomery. 
     I started out as someone who really did not like the idea of hunting. I thought it was pointless and wasted the lives of adorable deer, but I can now see the bigger picture thanks to multiple meetings with different representatives of the Program. While meeting with Committee Person Wasilauski, I learned a lot about the reasons why the deer population needs to be controlled. It is essential because the deer overpopulation does more than just chew up residential gardens, but it destroys the forests. Even in the summer, our forests are relatively devoid of grass and young trees, while it should look significantly greener. The deer eat young trees and native species, leaving behind only the older trees and invasive species. So long as this continues, the forests will not be able to regrow, and eventually, as the older trees die out, there will be no younger ones to replace them. This is a big issue because it messes with the sustainability of our township’s ecosystems. Habitats could be destroyed, air quality could go down, and so many other serious problems that would occur if the deer continue to eat young vegetation. Deer also cause a lot of problems on the roads. Accidents involving deer become more common as the overpopulation gets worse as the deer move from forests to traffic-filled residential areas, where bird feeders and home gardens offer a free meal. I learned from Committee Person Wasilauski that intentionally feeding the deer is one of the worst things that individuals can do, because once the deer understand that residential areas are perfect for finding food, they will migrate closer to developments. Deer are, in fact, very smart. This migration is dangerous not only in terms of automobile accidents, but also when considering the abundance of deer ticks that can cause fatal illnesses. 
     Through one-on-one meetings with representatives, I have also learned what other methods Montgomery has tried to use to approach this issue. While the idea of birth control would be the most humane, it is not very effective or efficient, and it would cost more money than the Program can budget. This is where I thought of a possible next step for the Program: state legislation. If the New Jersey government could create laws and funding to help individual townships or counties address the issue of deer overpopulation, the issue—which exists in every county—could be more easily addressed. Legislators would need a push, though, and this would have to come from the local government. This is not something that could be implemented immediately, but it is something for the Program to think about as the environment continues to decline (and yes, I do know that Montgomery has a lot of green space, but it used to, and could once again, have a lot more). 
     Something that surprised me about my committee was that people feed mass numbers of deer in their backyards, and that this is far more detrimental than one might expect. Not only do deer naturally spread to residential areas that do not have hunting allowed, but they are encouraged to do so because they are fed by residents. I also did not expect to hear that other townships herd many deer together and then kill them. I am grateful that Montgomery does not do this.
     If fellow students want to help, the first thing I would advise is to not feed the deer. As someone who grew up feeding deer in upstate New York as if they were my own, it was hard to see deer in my backyard and not put some bird feed out for them. However, after learning what I have from the Program members, I know that I am doing the right thing by making sure they do not spread to residential areas. It may be hard at first, but it makes a big difference. Besides ensuring that the deer do not go to backyards in search of a meal, it is important to have discussions. Start discussions in your environmental clubs at school or your lunch table. The more we talk about the issue of deer overpopulation, the more awareness there is. That is the most important first step, because once everyone is aware, we can all come together to find solutions. For more information, and to get in contact with members of the Program, check out the Deer Management Program’s page on the township website: https://twp.montgomery.nj.us/departments/clerk/deer-management-program/