CAYUGA HEIGHTS --
The village of Cayuga Heights is just over two square miles but home to an estimated 200 deer. The deer roam the fields, roads and neighboring backyards and what - if anything - to do about them has caused years of debate. Last week the village trustees approved sterilizing about 20 to 60 does and then killing the rest but the vote caught many opponents by surprise.
"This is supposed to be a civilized community. I'm really kind of embarrassed to say I come from this community because - not only of the choices that our trustees are making, our previous mayor, and current mayor are making but also the way they're going about it," said Cayuga Heights resident Joe Romano.
On Monday night, the village trustees hosted a public hearing on fence ordinances in the village. As neighbors argued whether taller fences would help keep deer out or ruin the charm of the scenic village, protestors held a large banner questioning the board's decision to kill the deer.
"Killing the deer will only work on an island, not in a place like Ithaca which is surrounded by deer and land," said Ann Dryan. "Deer are just like humans. They're opportunistic - they'll move in."
Some neighbors have had enough of the deer. Chris Hoepker is tired of seeing the deer ruin his garden and was glad the trustees finally did something to control the deer population.
"They're probably headed in the right direction. I don't think it's aggressive enough but I have to admire the council and the mayor because they have done something when I look at the fury of the opposition," said Hoepker.
Opponents say they will keep up the fight but the village of Cayuga Heights plans to have a deer control plan in place by this fall.
