Deer becoming a major problem in Kure Beach

At some point, you may have had to swerve on the road to avoid hitting a deer, or passed what is left after someone else has hit one. People on Pleasure Island have been dealing with the issue a lot recently.

Greg George who lives in the area is used to the sight. “We see them everyday on the side of the road, it’s like a zoo out here.”

For the past few months, the town of Kure Beach has been inundated with complaints from residents concerned about the increasing deer population.

“The issues have run the gamete from people just seeing deer, which is not really considered a problem, to issues such as deer hitting people, and people hitting the deer with there vehicles,” said Robbie Norville, a State Wildlife Biologist.

Deer have become a nuisance beyond the roadways. Many residents have reported landscape damage, and tick bites. Robbie Norville said the piece of land off Dow Road has made the problem worse. It is part of Sunny Point, and owned by the US Army. The land has been a safe haven for local deer, but that may be changing.

Residents said they hope the town can find a way for the deer and humans to co-exist.

The town of Kure Beach is also considering putting up fencing around the Dow Road area but no decisions have been made yet.