Landscaping Encounter with a Deer and How We Handled this Claim
Landscaping Encounter with a Deer
Shelter Island is a town and island at the eastern end of Long Island, NY population about 2,000. The area was an early 17th century New World settlement. Take a stroll and you may notice a 1932 iron sign that reads:
“SHELTER ISLAND SETTLED 1652. NATHANIEL SYLVESTER 1610-1680 A SUGAR MERCHANT OF BARBADOS WAS ITS FIRST RESIDENT OWNER”
In 1651, the island was sold to Sylvester’s merchant group for 1,600 pounds of sugar.
The island was home to the Manhanset, an Algonquin tribe, and its original name is Manhansack-aha-quash-awamock, which translates to “Island sheltered by islands.”
But there is another inhabitant of Shelter Island that has interacted with its residents for centuries. The deer.
In fact, drive 30 minutes from NYC into North Jersey or Long Island, and you’ll likely encounter deer crossing the highway. The Northeast’s deer seem to have no intention of going away, and one specific deer made for a dramatic day when it fell into a Shelter Island resident’s landscaping.
In December 2018, the homeowner, Arnold Shaver, contacted his insurer to alert them of the deer-related mishap. Landscaping Inspection Services inspector Demetri Veriko was dispatched to the quiet little town to find out what the deer business was all about. He spoke with the insured who explained that the unfortunate deer did not make it, but he had pictures to prove that the animal had indeed been there and made an impact.
The pool was an in-ground with a vinyl liner interior. The liner was 15-17 years old and was faded and brittle but was remarkably well-maintained to have lasted this long. The pool’s maintenance was done by an outside company.
The ill-fated deer had severely ripped up the pool liner as it attempted to escape, and with countless tears and gauges, the inspector found the liner unsalvageable. The pool had been winterized and its equipment was intact. Along with the liner, the pool’s wall and floor had sustained damage, as had its winter cover. The pool would also need to be re-filled after repairs and water is rather expensive on Shelter Island.
The inspector’s bid was about $12,000 and included a new liner, flooring, wall foam, and pool cover.
Life goes on in the quaint little town of Shelter Island, and the Long Island deer continue to roam about, just hopefully not into too many pools.
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