They’re Trying To Save Rare White Deer Herd

2016 - Volume #40, Issue #3, Page #40

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“No date has been announced for a decision, but we should hear soon,” predicts Dennis Money, president of Seneca White Deer Inc. (SWD), a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the largest-known population of white white-tailed deer in the world.

    The decision Money refers to is what will happen with the fenced-in 7,000-acre former Seneca Army Depot in upstate New York that’s home to a herd of 200 rare white deer. It’s also a rich ecosystem of shrubs, hardwood forest, birds and diverse wildlife.

    The depot was built by the War Department in 1941 to house munitions. Development of the site displaced 130 farm families. Thousands of men and women built 519 bomb igloos, 140 miles of roads, 40 miles of rail and 24 miles of perimeter fence.

    “Three bids are being considered for the land, one of which is ours,” says Money. “The other two, as I understand it, are for agricultural development.”

    The white deer owe their existence to the rusting chain-link perimeter fencing that went up when the depot was built, capturing several dozen wild white-tailed deer in the area’s extensive woodlands. The white deer are a natural genetic variation of normal brown white-tail deer. They’re not albinos, which lack all pigment, but are leucistic, lacking pigment only in their hair.

    The SWD plan calls for partnering with the town of Varick to preserve 3,000 acres of the depot site with the goals of promoting ecotourism, minimizing human impact to the environment, and benefiting the local community. SWD’s proposed park would feature guided tours and programs focused on environmental education, energy conservation, military history, wildlife photography, horseback riding, camping, and scientific research.

    “We think we have a good plan that will perpetuate the deer herd, be good for the region, and lead to economic development for the community,” says Money.

    The SWD website offers an interactive map that enables viewers to zoom in on various areas of the depot to view all 519 of the depot’s former earth-covered igloos and to see how the site might be developed to attract tourists and preserve wildlife.

     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Seneca White Deer, 4780 Deuel Rd., Canandaigua, New York 14424 (ph 585 944-3015; www.senecawhitedeer.org).

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They’re Trying To Save Rare White Deer Herd LIVESTOCK Exotic Animals “No date has been announced for a decision but we should hear soon ” predicts Dennis Money president of Seneca White Deer Inc SWD a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the largest-known population of white white-tailed deer in the world

    The decision Money refers to is what will happen with the fenced-in 7 000-acre former Seneca Army Depot in upstate New York that’s home to a herd of 200 rare white deer It’s also a rich ecosystem of shrubs hardwood forest birds and diverse wildlife

    The depot was built by the War Department in 1941 to house munitions Development of the site displaced 130 farm families Thousands of men and women built 519 bomb igloos 140 miles of roads 40 miles of rail and 24 miles of perimeter fence

    “Three bids are being considered for the land one of which is ours ” says Money “The other two as I understand it are for agricultural development ”

    The white deer owe their existence to the rusting chain-link perimeter fencing that went up when the depot was built capturing several dozen wild white-tailed deer in the area’s extensive woodlands The white deer are a natural genetic variation of normal brown white-tail deer They’re not albinos which lack all pigment but are leucistic lacking pigment only in their hair

    The SWD plan calls for partnering with the town of Varick to preserve 3 000 acres of the depot site with the goals of promoting ecotourism minimizing human impact to the environment and benefiting the local community SWD’s proposed park would feature guided tours and programs focused on environmental education energy conservation military history wildlife photography horseback riding camping and scientific research

    “We think we have a good plan that will perpetuate the deer herd be good for the region and lead to economic development for the community ” says Money

    The SWD website offers an interactive map that enables viewers to zoom in on various areas of the depot to view all 519 of the depot’s former earth-covered igloos and to see how the site might be developed to attract tourists and preserve wildlife

     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Seneca White Deer 4780 Deuel Rd Canandaigua New York 14424 ph 585 944-3015; www senecawhitedeer org

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