06-22-2026 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Additional Notes: • 2010: A private hunt permit was issued for the Sculley Property (3000 Labore Road). • 2011: A private hunt permit was issued for the Frattalone Properties (3204 and 3205 Rice Street). An aerial deer survey counted 109 deer within the survey area. • 2012: No aerial deer survey was conducted due to insufficient snow cover. • 2014: The aerial deer survey recorded 24 deer, a significant decrease from the 109 deer counted in 2011. • 2015: No aerial deer survey was conducted due to insufficient snow cover. • 2017: No aerial deer survey was conducted due to insufficient snow cover. • 2022: No aerial deer survey was conducted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). • 2024–2026: No aerial deer surveys were conducted by the DNR. Control Results: • 2009: The city partnered with Metro Bowhunters Resource Base (MBRB) to conduct controlled hunts at St. John’s Cemetery and nearby properties. A total of 13 deer were harvested over three hunt periods. • 2010: Hunt areas were expanded, resulting in 52 deer harvested in designated control areas. Deer populations declined only modestly, highlighting the need for ongoing management. • 2011: 33 deer were harvested from designated hunt areas. Additional sites were added, but no deer were taken from those new locations. • 2012: Hunt areas remained unchanged. 20 deer were harvested in Little Canada, and 7 additional deer were harvested in the Spoon Lake area through a partnership with Maplewood. • 2013: 12 deer were harvested in Little Canada, with 8 additional deer taken in Maplewood hunt areas. • 2014: Harvest totals declined to 6 deer in Little Canada and 7 deer in nearby Maplewood locations. • 2015: Hunting was limited to the Frattalone Property; no other city sites were open for hunting. • 2016: No hunting was permitted within Little Canada. • 2017: A limited special hunt on the Scully and MBRB properties resulted in 9 deer harvested. • 2018–2021: No hunting was permitted within Little Canada. • 2022: A special hunt conducted with Maplewood near Spoon Lake resulted in 9 deer harvested. The city’s intent with this initiative has not been to eradicate deer from the community. Deer are considered a valuable element of Little Canada’s ecosystem. Prior to the implementation of the Deer Management Program in 2010, the number of community member complaints about deer was increasing. Residents were typically concerned that the local deer population increases the risk of car/deer accidents or that deer are causing damage to plants and landscaping throughout the community, and a significant amount of staff time was dedicated to dealing with complaints and removing deer that had been struck by vehicles. In 2025/26, there have been no car/deer collisions reported and little to no resident complaints. Deer appear to be at a healthy and socially acceptable level within city limits.