CAYUGA HEIGHTS (AP) -- A dozen people who say an upstate New York village's plan to thin the local deer herd is too violent will drop their court challenge.
Cayuga Heights, about 45 miles south of Syracuse, plans to surgically sterilize a core population of does and cull up to 85 deer initially.
Proposals to control the thriving deer population have long caused disputes.
Lawyer Arthur Giacalone, who represented the residents, tells the Ithaca Journal the deadline to appeal has passed and there will be no further action. He says the residents still believe the plan is too violent and didn't consider alternatives.
Mayor Kate Supron tells the paper the village will now hire a contractor for the job, estimated to cost $1,000 per sterilization and $400 for each deer culled.
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