What's behind all these NJ deer interactions lately?
Have the deer in New Jersey become bolder?
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Deer have been getting into trouble all over New Jersey this summer - and their antics have been caught on camera. Police rescued a deer that had fallen into an abandoned well in Hopatcong last week, and another that was tangled in a soccer net in Tinton Falls.
Even as both deer were rescued and released, local agencies are reminding homeowners to inspect and maintain their property.
“People are always going to have overlaps with wildlife in many different ways," said Joe Basralian of "Deer New Jersey. "I think actually it’s wonderful that we get calls when there are problems, interactions with deer that don’t go so well for the deer, sometimes don’t go so well for the people.”
Have the deer in New Jersey become bolder? Basralian says they’re just overpopulated. It turns out, clearcutting has an unexpected benefit for these animals.
“What we’re actually doing is allowing a lot more sunlight to hit the ground," Basralian said. "That allows nitrogen-enriched plants that deer love to grow much faster. Through our own development, we’re actually significantly increasing the deer herd numbers.”
Data from the New Jersey Department of Transportation shows that crashes involving animals increased over the last three years - over 11,600 in 2025. These crashes can be costly.
“Because of all those technologies and sensors involved, it’s so much more expensive to repair your vehicle," said Robert Sinclair Jr., of AAA Northeast Public Affairs. "A deer hit used to be about $500-$1,000, now it’s upwards of $2,000-$3,000 to repair.”
Activists opposed culling in Liberty State Park this spring. But the DEP writes that the deer population in New Jersey is “far greater than the ecosystem can sustain.”
“About 1,000 deer are donated each year to food-insecure residents," said Basralian. "So, that is a very significant part of ethical stewardship of deer. Other communities are looking at things like residential feeding restrictions.”
And if the deer seem active now, this is just a warm-up. They become more active in the mating season, starting in October.
