News release from the office of Senator Brian Joyce
The Environmental Bond Bill recently passed by the Massachusetts Senate contains a provision authored by Senator Brian A. Joyce to address the overcrowding of deer in the Blue Hills. The legislation directs the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to develop and implement a plan to control deer populations in areas where they exceed 50 per square mile. A recent report requested by Joyce put the deer population of the Blue Hills at roughly 85 per square mile when wildlife officials consider 6 to 8 deer per square mile to be a healthy population. The rise in the deer population has created a significant increase in deer ticks, which carry potentially fatal communicable diseases like Lyme disease and babesiosis.
“The amount of deer in the Blue Hills now poses a serious health risk,” said Joyce. “We’ve seen a rapid increase in ticks and the ecosystem is being damaged by the amount of grazing that’s occurring. The Reservation simply cannot support the amount of deer present.”
DCR would develop and implement the plan by October 1 of this year. A similar culling program was developed and implemented by DCR for the Quabbin Reservoir which resulted in a vegetation rebound and water quality improvements following a controlled hunt.
What a great opportunity for the DCR to make some money back in Permit fees(to make up what Gov Patrick vetoed for the Blue Hills) and to help prevent the spread of Lyme Disease. I’m all for closing the Blue Hills for a one week controlled bow hunt by a lottery permit fee. Residents should have first choice though.
In the past year I’ve seen herds with as many as nine deer in the Blue Hills. Last year, I hit one with my car on Chickatawbut Road. It got up, shook itself off, and ran off into the woods. A couple months ago, I saw another one get hit by a car; it went flying across the street, and did not survive. And the deer are spreading, too. Earlier this month, I saw five beside Truman Parkway in Milton, including three fawns. And a while back, I even saw one along the Neponset in Dorchester. I also saw a coyote near that spot, so I don’t know if we really want the runaway deer population to promote coyotes running around our neighborhoods. Or do we? Maybe that would help with the deer problem…