New York City Parks Department is conducting an aerial survey for deer over The Bronx tonight.
The survey, called Forward Looking Infrared Radar uses an infrared camera mounted to a small plane and will measure the temperature difference between the deer and its environment. The plane will fly at a height of 1,000 feet over certain parks and open spaces at night, when the temperature difference is the greatest. This survey follows a previous survey conducted over Staten Island parkland in February and is the first step in developing a management plan for NYC’s deer population. The results will be used to establish a baseline population number, which can then be monitored over time to see how populations are changing.
If overpopulated, deer can lead to a reduction of long-term sustainability of thousands of acres of native forests, increased threat of car accidents, and an increase in the incidence of Lyme disease.