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Resolution of the Mayor and Council of Princeton Endorsing Princeton’s Application to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife for Designation of a Special Deer Management Area and Approval of Princeton’s 2025-2026 Community Based Deer Management Plan
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WHEREAS, N.J.S.A. 23:4-42.3 et seq. (“deer management law”) authorizes municipalities and the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife to seek designation as a special deer management area and to develop and implement site specific community-based deer management plans; and
WHEREAS, since 2000 Princeton has utilized the deer management law to combat the negative impacts of the overpopulation of deer in the Township; and
WHEREAS, it continues to be necessary to employ alternate deer management methods to supplement traditional hunting in order to maintain the deer population at or near goal level, and to that end wishes again to apply to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife and the New Jersey Fish and Game Council for a special deer management permit and approval of a community-based deer management plan pursuant to the deer management law; and
WHEREAS, provided it succeeds in obtaining a Permit to Inhibit Wildlife Reproduction (“PIWR”) from the Division of Fish and Wildlife, Princeton also hopes to supplement its community-based deer management through the use of non-lethal measures—specifically, surgical sterilization—in those areas of the municipality in which other deer management methods have proven infeasible; and
WHEREAS, Princeton intends to retain the services of White Buffalo, Inc. to implement both Princeton’s 2025-2026 community-based deer management plan and Princeton’s deer sterilization program (the latter of which is subject to the Division’s approval of Princeton’s June 28, 2025 application for a PIWR); and
WHEREAS, in addition, Princeton has awarded a goods and services agreement to John Zampini and Suburban Deer Management Associates to provide bow hunting services to the municipality in certain of the Princeton’s parks and open spaces as a component of Princeton’s overall deer management program of which the community-based deer management plan is a component (see Resolution R-25-303 adopted on August 25, 2025); and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Council of Princeton as follows:
1. The preamble to this resolution is incorporated herein and made a part hereof as if set forth in full.
2. Princeton hereby adopts and endorses the Application for Designation of a Special Deer Management Area and the Application for Community Based Deer Management Plan for 2025-2026, copies of which will be available in the Office of the Princeton Clerk, and authorizes the submission of both applications to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife.
3. The Mayor, Clerk, Administrator, Municipal Attorney are hereby authorized to undertake any and all acts and submit any and all documents as may be deemed necessary and prudent in order to enable the implementation of Princeton’s 2025-2026 community-based deer management plan. This authorization shall also extend to the principals and employees of White Buffalo, Inc.
4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.