Deer Humans,

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.

Episode DescriptionGrowing 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 NotesAll music in this episode is courtesy of Blue Dot Sessions.Sources referenced in this episode:New York State Department of Transportation: Deer and Moose AvoidanceInsurance Information Institute: Facts + Statistics: Deer vehicle collisionsNew York State Department of Conservation: Species Status Assessment for WolfGuests featured in this episode (in order of appearance):Jane Gill, Marissa Estatio, Dr. H. Brian Underwood, Dell Cullum, Dr. Jim Bevilacqua, Chenae Bullock, Dr. David Hirth.Organizations to support:Moskehtu ConsultingShinnecock Nation Covid 19 Relief FundCooperation Long IslandFurther learning:Shinnecock Nation Cultural Center & MuseumConscience Point FilmCheck out this podcast:Nature GuysSpecial thanks:Kaitlin Keleher, Kim-Trang Tran, Elizabeth Affuso, Ruti Talmor, Lauren Chattman, Jack Bishop, Laura Joyce Davis, Nate Davis, The Shelter in Place Alumni Writing Group, and my Fall 2021 Media Studies peer group.Thank you to KSPC 88.7 FM for recording studio access.Thank you to the Pomona College Summer Undergraduate Research Fund for helping to make this series possible.To learn more about me and my work, visit evebishop.net.

Episode DescriptionAnyone 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 NotesAll music in this episode is courtesy of Blue Dot Sessions.Sources referenced in this episode:Democrat & Chronicle: New N.Y. rules irk wildlife rehabilitatorsAnimal Legal & Historical Center: EVELYN ALEXANDER WILDLIFE RESCUE CENTER INC. and Virginia Frati, Petitioners, v. NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, Respondent.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Chronic Wasting DiseaseCenters for Disease Control and Prevention: Chronic Wasting Disease - CWD in AnimalsGuests featured in this episode (in order of appearance):Dell Cullum, Adrienne Gillespie, Jane GillOrganizations to support:Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue CenterWildlife Rescue of East Hampton, Inc. - Call their toll-free wildlife rescue hotline - 844-SAV-WILD (844-728-9453)Further learning:Wildlife education events at Marders NurseryDell’s WebsiteWhy you need wildlife corridors and how to make themNature at home: creating your own wildlife gardenHow to find a wildlife rehabilitator in your stateCheck out these podcasts:Native Plants, Healthy PlanetThresholdStrange Animals PodcastTo learn more about me and my work, visit evebishop.net.

Episode DescriptionWhat 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 NotesAll music in this episode is courtesy of Blue Dot Sessions.Source referenced in this episode:The New York Times: Deer Overpopulation Meets Its Match: Women Who HuntGuests featured in this episode (in order of appearance):Jane Gill, Marissa Estatio, Jacqueline Molina, Julia Weisenberg, Chenae BullockOrganizations to support:Long Island Babes and Bucks Facebook Page & InstagramFurther learning:Newsday: This women's fishing club is big on catches and bigger on empowermentThe New Yorker: Deer Wars and Death ThreatsThe New York Times: Meat Is Hard for Hungry Families to Come By. Enter These Deer Hunters.Untamed Science: Can Hunting Be Conservation?Check out these podcasts:Native Plants, Healthy PlanetLiving PlanetShelter In PlaceSpecial thanks:Kaitlin Keleher, Kim-Trang Tran, Elizabeth Affuso, Ruti Talmor, Lauren Chattman, Jack Bishop, Laura Joyce Davis, Nate Davis, The Shelter in Place Alumni Writing Group, and my Fall 2021 Media Studies peer group.Thank you to KSPC 88.7 FM for recording studio access.Thank you to the Pomona College Summer Undergraduate Research Fund for helping to make this series possible.To learn more about me and my work, visit evebishop.net.