Land Alliance will partner with Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Suffolk and several not-for-profit organizations to host the Oh DEER! Symposium: Addressing Challenges, Exploring Solutions to be held on August 11, 2026 at LIU Post.

It’s hard to believe that about a century ago, thanks to overhunting and habitat loss, deer were nearly gone in New York State (outside of the Adirondacks).

As most of us will bemoan, white-tailed deer have wrought havoc on our woodlands and other natural communities locally and throughout the eastern U.S. The absence of predators and late arriving control measures have led to skyrocketing deer populations. Their foraging and breeding season behavior are destroying native plant communities. The AAA recently announced that 2025 witnessed the highest number of deer collisions with cars on Long Island since 2018. In addition, exposure to Lyme disease and decimation of agricultural crops and suburban gardens are well known.

The devastation deer cause to the understory of our woodlands is less recognized by the general public. As deer forage on native plants, they enhance conditions for invasive plants (deer’s least favorite snack) to take over. And their habits prevent seedlings from allowing forests to regenerate. The ripple effect of these impacts is a decline in water quality, as lack of mature trees disrupts forests’ ability to filter pollutants and cool water bodies.

To address this devastating problem, the Land Alliance will partner with Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Suffolk to host a symposium to be held on August 11, 2026 at LIU Post. The purpose of the event will be to advance education about the damage deer cause to our native landscapes and how we can respond to protect them.

Open to everyone from backyard gardeners to land managers to municipalities, the symposium (with another planned for 2027) will cover the importance of properly managing deer populations for ecosystem and human health. Keynote speaker and Cornell Professor Bernd Blossey will kick off the event, presenting deer impacts on forest species and ecological systems. With the help of CCE and other partners, we will showcase presentations from individuals offering solutions. They will include the installation of deer fencing, managing deer populations through hunting, advocating for changes in the laws surrounding deer population management and suggestions of deer resistant plantings. Hands-on demonstrations featuring innovative back country deer fencing will follow at Land Alliance preserves.