Episode Description

What comes to mind when you picture a hunter? Is the person you’re imagining a woman? No? Well, think again. In the fourth and final chapter of Deer Humans, we take a deep dive into what is perhaps the most polarizing topic of the entire series: hunting. I speak with three deer hunters who are determined to debunk some of the myths surrounding their sport, one of which is that it’s a sport for men. These three women help me unpack the complexities of being a deer hunter in an overpopulated area like the East End. We discuss hunting as a form of conservation, whether or not it’s possible for hunters to love animals, and the things hunters wish you knew before you judged them. Along the way, I grapple with what it means to listen, compromise, and embark on a search for common ground.

Show Notes

Episode Description

People in my hometown hate deer for all sorts of reasons: they cause car collisions, destroy property owners’ gardens, and wreak havoc on the forest floor. But perhaps the number one reason people want to get rid of deer? Lyme Disease. Deer play a major role in the spread of Lyme Disease and other tick-borne illnesses. If they’re not discovered and treated quickly enough, these diseases can cause serious long-term damage to those who suffer from them. I’ve always known that deer have a part to play in the spread of tick-borne illnesses… but to what extent are they to blame? In this episode, I sit down with several tick-borne illness researchers, who help me better understand how deer fit into the Lyme Disease equation. I also speak with someone whose harrowing experience with Lyme Disease shifted her perspective on racial and gendered biases within the American healthcare system.

Show Notes

Sources referenced in this episode:

Episode Description

Anyone living on the East End has likely witnessed the consequences of deer overpopulation on human life. But arguably no one understands the gravity of this issue quite like those who work directly with these animals. In the second episode of Deer Humans, I speak with two wildlife rescuers whose paths crossed one day under unimaginable circumstances. These passionate rescuers, who act as fierce defenders of their four-legged friends, help to uncover some sinister secrets surrounding deer management on the East End. And when it comes to exposing the ugly truth, they’re not holding back.

Show Notes

Episode Description

Growing up on the East End of Long Island, I’ve always been aware that there are issues surrounding our local white-tailed deer population. But until recently, I had no idea just how far back the origins of this problem go. In the first episode of Deer Humans, I dig into the history of property development in The Hamptons, and discover what the increasing construction of mega-mansions has to do with the explosion of our deer population. To get to the root of the issue, I speak with wildlife experts and an Indigenous activist who is all too familiar with the devastating impacts of overdevelopment on the environment. I begin to unravel the threads of a seemingly unique story that, at its core, explores the universal struggle that humans face in order to coexist with nature.

Show Notes

Every summer, herds of wealthy vacationers flock to a group of seaside towns on the East End of Long Island, New York, collectively known as The Hamptons. Although it's known for its sprawling beaches, star-studded events, and exorbitantly high-priced real estate, The East End is also home to an ecological conflict that has been decades in the making. White-tailed deer are overpopulated in many parts of the country, and on the East End, the overabundance of these animals has become a major point of contention in the community. The East End's local deer population poses many threats to both human and non-human life-- deer cause lethal car collisions, play a major role in the spread of tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme Disease, and contribute to an increasingly alarming sense of ecological imbalance. Some members of the community want to eliminate deer completely, while others are dedicated to protecting them. What has ensued is a local conflict entangled with issues of animal rights, disease epidemics, and wildlife management, ultimately posing the question: who has the right to inhabit land? Deer Humans, tells the story of what happens when humans are forced to reckon with a changing environment caused by, well, us.

Deer Humans, premieres on Wednesday, February 23rd. Subsequent episodes will drop every Wednesday.