[h=1]Harlem's One-Antlered Deer Dies From 'Stress' Before Relocation, City Says[/h] [h=2]Lefty, a one-antlered deer caught in Harlem, died of "stress" while city and state officials squabbled over his fate Friday.[/h]
By
Brendan Krisel (Patch National Staff) - December 16, 2016 3:09 pm ET
HARLEM, NY ? Harlem's famous one-antlered deer, "Lefty," died Friday as he awaited relocation upstate, according to a spokesman for the NYC Mayor's Office. (For breaking updates on Harlem's one-antlered deer, and to receive more local news in your inbox each morning,
sign up for the Harlem Patch newsletter.)
"Sad news," Eric Phillips, the mayor's spokesman, said Friday afternoon. "While under the stress of captivity & while awaiting potential transport upstate by state [Department of Environmental Conservation], the Harlem deer has died."
The DEC shot back with the following statement: "We offered yesterday to take possession of the deer and transport it to a suitable habitat. The City did not accept our offer until just before noon, and while we were arriving on scene the deer died in the City?s possession.?...
... The deer likely swam his way to Manhattan in search of food or a mate, the city said, but decided to stay in Jackie Robinson Park once locals started to feed it (against official advice).
The city sentenced Lefty to euthanasia as soon as he was caught.
Soon after, though, state officials intervened, saying they would spare no expense to relocate the deer upstate ? despite state regulations that prohibit the movement of deer beyond county lines, except for scientific purposes.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo released an unprovoked statement Thursday night offering to relocate the deer ? a break from policy. State environmental regulations prevent deer from being transported across county lines, as they often do not survive relocation to a new habitat...
