RIVER VALE, N.J.—Township Council members heard more negative opinions July 22 on a proposed local deer bowhunt though most council members and the mayor contend the majority of residents are in favor of a bowhunt to reduce deer population numbers.
For at least six consecutive meetings, anti-bowhunting advocates of all ages—including youngsters—have provided public comments opposing River Vale’s likely fall bow hunt being planned by local and state officials.
Eight speakers, including two young girls, voiced opposition July 22 and while most opposed the hunt and urged non-lethal methods be adopted for deer management, one speaker, Angi Metler, executive director, Animal Protection League of New Jersey, got into a verbal tussle with Mayor Glen Jasionowski.
During her public comment, Metler referred to a Jasionowski email that said that the state is the legal authority and the state has “denied any non-lethal methods to River Vale” as dishonest.
When Metler referred to the email as “dishonest,” both Council President Mark Bromberg and Jasionowski took offense and interrupted Metler’s comments. Both took offense at Metler’s characterization of the mayor.
‘Restrain yourself’
While Jasionowski suggested he would ask her to “leave” if she continued to use the word, Bromberg urged more restraint and said it was “inappropriate to call our mayor dishonest” and urged her to “restrain yourself from casting aspersions or making derogatory comments.”
Jasionowski told her “everyone on this dais heard the same words from Fish, Game and Wildlife. If you’re going to call me dishonest, you’re going to leave,” he said.
Metler apologized several times for characterizing Jasionowksi as “dishonest” and then said she “would prove that this [email] is misleading.”
She said the state fish and wildlife agency has not approved deer fertility control programs in over a decade, but that should not preclude River Vale from adopting “non-lethal deer conflict and impact management strategies recommended by experts.”
She said that Jasionowski had called the League’s honesty into question during previous comments he made at an Englewood deer forum.
Jasionowski appeared at a June 5 Englewood public officials’ forum and said after consulting with experts, River Vale basically had two options for deer population control: do nothing or have a hunt.
The mayor has said he personally opposed hunting for years and held out hope that by now more options would be available.
Metler said that the mayor and council are not doing enough to implement non-lethal deer management methods in River Vale.
Metler said the only state non-lethal control being denied is fertility management, while public education and deer-conflict and impact-management efforts are allowed by the state.
Public Education ‘Not Denied’
“The state has not denied public education on deer,” said Metler.
Metler cited specific measures towns can implement such as restoring wildlife habitats, wildlife feeding bans, plant and forest health education, deer-resistant plant sales, invasive and exotic seed removal programs, habitat modification along roadways, erect wildlife crossings in new construction and infrastructure upgrades, fencing, reduced speed limits, increased signage and lighting near deer crossings, and Lyme disease prevention through public education.
River Vale has previously adopted an ordinance to ban wildlife feeding.
Metler called the non-lethal measures part of a “deer-smart community program.”
She said these were the items she was referring to when she said the mayor’s email was misleading.
‘A humane approach’
“This is a comprehensive humane approach to handle deer conflicts and impacts and that is what I was responding to and that is not here and this is all true what I just said,” she concluded.
Two girls—Adele Gollub of Lockhaven Drive and Emma Boulanger of Loretta Drive—spoke in tandem at the podium opposing a bowhunt.
Gollub called the deer “innocent” creatures and Boulanger said “the greatness of this nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
In addition to Metler and the two youngsters, five additional speakers addressed the council offering non-lethal options and opposed a bowhunt to cull deer.
Jasionowski and council members unanimously decided in May to begin preparations for a possible fall bowhunt after consultations with the state Division of Fish and Wildlife.
Since October 2018, when Jasionowski announced a likely bow hunt, the council has devoted six-plus months to listen to public comments and hear from experts on both sides—proposing lethal and non-lethal options for deer population control.
Asked about the deer bowhunt status after the meeting, Jasionowski declined comment and appeared upset shortly after public comments concluded.
“We are always interested in what our residents have to say…and even comments from non-residents,” said Bromberg after the meeting.
‘Still finding facts’
“That is not going to alter or change our decision,” he added. “We are still finding facts…once we continue to have facts we will continue to make decisions,” said Bromberg.
Bromberg said “there are many people” who never come to council meetings who support a local bowhunt to control deer population. Jasionowski previously has said a majority of residents support the bow hunt.
The mayor and council agreed to pursue the bowhunt option when state officials told them they would not approve any non-lethal deer reduction methods, including sterilization.
In 2018, the state rejected Saddle River’s proposal for a deer sterilization program as ineffective and experimental. Saddle River culled 135 deer in Bergen County’s first regulated bowhunt from fall 2018 through winter 2019.
Jasionowski had said he would reach out to Saddle River Mayor Al Kurpis to get details on that borough’s first bowhunt.
To overcome the lack of state-approved non-lethal options, animal rights advocates from two anti-hunt groups have urged council to lobby the state to provide more non-lethal deer control options.
State agency ‘dishonest’
“My basic feeling is Fish and Wildlife is dishonest. We’ve been saying the same things she’s (Metler) been saying for months,” said Mark Nagelhout of Metler’s testimony following the meeting.
Nagelhout and wife, Kim, of Park Ridge, are Animal Protection League of New Jersey members, and have appeared regularly at council meetings to oppose a deer bowhunt and offer non-lethal options.
Both have led several recent public protests against the deer hunt—twice in River Vale and before the June Englewood forum.
Over the past few months, some residents and non-residents have called for a referendum on the bowhunt but Jasionowski said previously that the council is elected to make hard decisions and the issue would not go to referendum.
A recent drone deer survey in River Vale revealed 96 deer per square mile in the township, well above the 10 deer per square mile recommended by biologists.
Pascack Press outreach to Jasionowski for comment on the bowhunt’s status were not returned by press time.