PASCACK VALLEY —Three area councils will take up the region’s growing deer problem this month, as residents press officials for solutions to rising accidents, property damage, and health concerns.
Meetings are scheduled for Sept. 9 in Montvale, Sept. 15 in Old Tappan, and Sept. 16 in Emerson. Each will feature a different approach, but the shared concern is clear: deer are increasingly colliding with people and property.
Local mayors say complaints are up, and many residents now link higher deer numbers to more car crashes, the spread of tick-borne Lyme disease, and destruction of landscaping. Tragedies underline the urgency: an Emerson resident was killed in a deer-related crash last year, and in 2021 a River Vale motorcyclist died after striking a buck on Route 4 in Teaneck.
Montvale: Drone Scan on the Table
Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali said the council will consider authorizing a thermal drone scan this fall to measure the borough’s deer population.
“Residents have described the growing presence of deer throughout Montvale,” Ghassali wrote in a Sept. 1 email update. He said the technology would provide accurate counts even in dense vegetation or low light, and that the data would guide decisions on traffic safety, habitat preservation, and ecological balance.
He stressed the borough does not support culling and will instead seek “humane and sustainable alternatives.”
Old Tappan: DEP Expert to Speak
Old Tappan Mayor Thomas Gallagher said his Sept. 15 meeting will feature NJDEP Senior Biologist Brian Schumm, who will outline local and regional options.
One resident recently told officials his insurance carrier dropped him after yet another deer-related crash. “We have a much bigger problem than a number of years ago,” the man said, citing injuries, property damage, and Lyme disease.
Gallagher said leaving the problem alone is not an option. “I fear someone may need to die before town leaders get serious,” he said, adding that deer now have “no natural predators except for automobiles.”
Options under discussion include sterilization, relocation, and pressing Bergen County for a stronger role in management. Gallagher alleged County Executive James Tedesco III has so far shown little interest.
Emerson: Learning Before Acting
Emerson Mayor Danielle DiPaola said her Sept. 16 meeting will feature a presentation by the NJDEP Bureau of Wildlife Management on deer biology, impacts, and management options.
DiPaola noted, “Tragically, Emerson had a fatality last year caused by a deer. As this is a regional issue, we have invited neighboring town officials to join us.”
For now, Emerson is gathering information only. “The Borough of Emerson is not actively pursuing any action at this time,” she wrote in a mayor’s update.
Beyond Pascack Valley
Separately, Veolia Water confirmed it has conducted drone surveys of watershed lands near the Oradell and Woodcliff Lake reservoirs. “The study found what many who live in the area already know very well: The deer are overpopulated,” said Debra Vial, the company’s communications director.
Meanwhile, Saddle River remains the only Bergen County town to hold semi-regular bow hunts. Its 2025 drone study with Raritan Valley Community College found deer densities four times above ecologically sustainable levels. Researchers warned the overpopulation is damaging forests, fueling tick-borne illness, and driving up vehicle collisions.