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The City’s intent with this initiative has not been to eradicate deer from the community. Deer are <br />considered a valuable element of Little Canada’s ecosystem. Prior to the implementation of the <br />Deer Management Program in 2010, the number of citizen complaints about deer was increasing. <br />Residents were typically concerned that the local deer population increases the risk of car/deer <br />accidents or that deer are causing damage to plants and landscaping throughout the community <br />and a significant amount of staff time was dedicated to dealing with complaints and removing <br />deer that had been struck by vehicles. <br />Deer Management Goal & Objectives <br />•Maintain deer populations at healthy and socially acceptable level <br />•Manage the overall deer population of approximately 10 deer per square mile (40 deer) <br />•Manage concentrated deer populations so as not to exceed 20 deer per square mile <br />•Manage deer populations to reduce the number of car/deer collisions <br />•Pass an ordinance prohibiting the feeding of deer and other wild animals/fowl <br />•Educate residents on how to minimize nuisance problems through planting and <br />landscaping; and the ramifications of supplemental deer feeding <br />Management Policies <br />1)The City will continue to contract with Ramsey County Parks & Recreation for <br />annual aerial deer survey services. The annual survey, resident input, and the <br />availability of suitable hunt sites shall be used as a basis for determining the <br />extent and location of any deer removal efforts for the upcoming season. <br />2)Attempt to document all resident input, including phone calls, e-mails and <br />letters. These shall be collected by the City Administrator and be provided to <br />the City Council for its annual evaluation of the deer management program. <br />3)Deer removal efforts necessary to achieve City objectives shall be limited to <br />archery and shall be conducted by the Metro Bowhunters Resource Base <br />(MBRB) or by private property owners when they have a site at least 20 acres in <br />size and the hunters pass appropriate proficiency criteria and abide by City hunt <br />rules. <br />4)Deer removal operations shall be conducted on public property where practical, <br />and on private property where conditions are conducive to archery and of <br />sufficient size and development is limited. Combinations of parcels to yield a <br />site of sufficient size (ideally no less than 20 acres) and with limited <br />development are acceptable; subject to property owner consent. <br />5)Notice will be mailed prior to the first removal date to all property owners <br />whose land adjoins a proposed deer removal site. The notice shall include the <br />dates of all hunts for that season and contact information for deer management <br />personnel (city staff and law enforcement). <br />6)The City will provide deer management and control information to <br />residents through the City’s newsletter and website. <br />The MBRB has proposed a special deer hunt in Little Canada in partnership with the Spoon Lake <br />area. Proposed dates for the special hunt are October 20-22 and December 1-3, 2023. <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION: <br />Staff recommends City Council authorization for a s pec ial controlled deer hunt in partnership <br />with the Spoon Lake area of Maplewood on October 20-22 and December 1-3, 2023.