06-27-2012 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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Control Results In the fall of 2009, the City contracted with Metro Bowhunters Resource Base (MBRB), a non- profit organization of bowhunters to conduct a controlled hunt in the area of St. John's Cemetery and other adjoining lands. 13 deer were removed from that area over three, two -day hunt periods that were spaced three weeks apart. The first hunt resulted in 10 deer being taken. The second yielded three deer and no deer were taken during the last hunt. In 2010, the hunt areas were expanded and 52 deer were taken with the hunt areas depicted on Exhibit B. Even with 52 deer taken and 42 from the areas in the NE part of the City, one can see from the chart previously discussed that the population on dropped from 81 to 69. Even in the area by St. John's cemetery that has been hunted two years still has a population of 13 deer, down only one from 2010. This indicates the need for a continued program if numbers are to be reduced to acceptable levels. In 2011, 33 deer were taken from the hunt areas depicted on Exhibit B. (Note: Result details are attached as Exhibit C). We also added additional hunt areas consisting of Gervais Mill, LC Elementary (south portion) & Spooner Park, and the Frattalone Property). These areas had additional restrictions and were late season additions. No deer were taken from these areas in 2011. It is important to state that it is not the City's intent to eradicate deer from the landscape. Rather, deer are considered to be a valuable element of Little Canada's ecosystem in which, absent natural predators, humans must assume the role of controlling the deer population at healthy and socially acceptable levels. It appears the majority of residents favor the City's efforts to attempt to control the population. The number of complaints about deer impacts to property had been increasing as the program has gained more visibility. The City's Community Survey completed in the summer of 2011 also shows support for these types of efforts with 78% wanting to maintain (74 %) or increase (4 %) the service. Complaints about the deer population have subsided in 2012. Staff believes the reduction in complaints is largely due to the citizen's knowledge that the City has been actively managing the population versus a lack of concern over the deer population. Deer Management Goal /Obieetiyes /Policies Management Goal: Manage white - tailed deer populations within the city at socially acceptable levels. Management Objectives: • Develop an operational management program to maintain deer populations within acceptable limits • Maintain an overall deer population in the community of 10 deer per square mile (40 deer) • Manage deer populations within the City so as not to exceed 20 deer per square mile 3 4