Suburban Conflict Between Deer And Humans to Be Subject of Conference

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The controversial issues that have emerged over deer in the suburbs -- and how to resolve them -- will be examined at a regional conference to be held on March 28 at the University at Buffalo School of Law.

Open to the public, "The Increasing Conflicts Between Deer and Human Populations in Suburban Areas," is targeted toward concerned citizens and policymakers.

Sponsored by the Buffalo Environmental Law Journal, which is published by the UB School of Law, and co-sponsored by Sub-Board I, the Buffalo Environmental Law Society and Students of Law for Animal Rights, the conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Room 104 in O'Brian Hall on the UB North (Amherst) Campus.

The purpose of the conference is to educate members of the public and policymakers on suburban deer management and the state's role in it, and to discuss how local groups can achieve a consensus on the issue.

Bait-and-shoot programs, as well as non-lethal alternatives to resolving the deer problem, such as land management and immunocontraception, will be discussed.

Speakers will include John Hadidian, director of urban wildlife of the Humane Society of the United States; Gary Parsons, chief of the Bureau of Wildlife, and Jim Snider, senior wildlife biologist, both of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; William Porter of the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and Bruce Kohrn, president of SBK Environmental Research.

Officials from Amherst, New York; Irondequoit, New York, and Morris County, New Jersey, will talk about how their towns are dealing with the issue during a panel discussion.

The registration fee is $15, which includes breakfast and lunch. Pre-registration is required.

To register, contact Kathy Bennett or Marc Romanowski at (716) 645-7342.