Press Release
August 20, 2009
For Release:Immediate
Press Contact:
Eileen Larrabee
Dan Keefe
518.486.1868
Letchworth Plans Public Meeting
Biodiverstiy and Deer population to be addressed
Letchworth State Park officials have announced plans for a public meeting to discuss the impact of the deer population on the environmental diversity of the park. The meeting will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 2 at the Castile Baptist Church, 5824 Portageville Rd (Rt. 19-A).
In recent years, scientists have documented the considerable diversity and value of the plants and animals within Letchworth State Park including many occurrences of rare, threatened, and endangered species. They have also documented an extreme loss of this biodiversity in the southern end of the park where there is a very high population of deer in this relatively small area of the park and as a result, the impact of deer on habitat for other animals and for plants has become a significant concern.
Representatives from New York State Parks will be on hand to provide an overview of the situation and options being considered and the public will have the opportunity to provide input into this issue.
For more information on this meeting, please call 585-493-3601.