Rye Residents Say Deer Have Taken Over Neighborhood

RYE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- An overpopulation problem has brought deer to dart around in every direction throughout the suburbs, and it is creating trouble in densely-populated areas of Westchester County.

As CBS2's Lou Young reported, plants have been nibbled, and protective fences have been put up, in an upscale section of Rye. The residents there have constant company in the form of deer.

"There was six one night, another time five -- little ones, big ones," said Marie Ioria of Rye.

"There's now eight to 10 on my property on a daily basis," said Elaine Petrillo of Rye.

"They run up and down the streets in herds in the wintertime – 20 to 30 in a group," said Ursula Rozov of Rye.

And nothing works – not even the gnome Ioria put out.

"I put the gnome," she said. "If you pass it, he makes noise – he talks to you."

The gnome emits a tinny elfin jingle, startling people and animals as they pass too close. Well, startling most animals.

"Everybody gets scared," Ioria said. "The darn deer don't!"

Even when they are not in sight, evidence of the deer is everywhere. A trail that looked like deer tracks was seen right alongside one this residential road.

Residents trace the deer hoof prints in their lawns to the nearby 147-acre county Marshlands Conservancy. They were expecting some relief this hunting season.

"Allow bow hunting in the preserve," Rozov said. "I think it'll help."

It is a common solution for deer overpopulation, and bow hunting is permitted in county parks to the north. But so far, Westchester County has refused to allow bow hunting in the Marshlands Conservancy.

"If we were to do it just solely on our property, the deer would be galloping off to adjacent properties," said Peter Tartaglia of the Westchester Parks Department.

The county first wants to see plans for controlling deer in areas outside the park.

"We're on our own. At this point, we'll probably work with our neighbors to see what we can do," said Marcus Serrano, who agreed that the county could take care of its own property.

In the meantime, the deer continue to much plants and fences in Rye.

Critics of bow hunting worry that wounded animals could find their way into adjoining neighborhoods, and then have to be killed by police or wildlife officers.