07-24-2013 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 in the designated control areas. Even with 52 deer taken and 42 of them coming from the areas in the NE part of the City, one can see from the chart previously discussed that the population only dropped from 81 to 69 in that area. Furthermore, the St. John's Cemetery Area had been hunted for two years and still had a population of 13 deer! That number was down only one deer from 2010. This indicates the need for a continued program if numbers are to be reduced and then maintained at acceptable levels. In 2011, 33 deer were taken from the designated hunt areas. 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. In 2012, hunt areas again remained essentially the same. 20 deer taken in Little Canada and an additional 7 were taken in the Spoon Lake area, a new site added by the City of Maplewood in 2012. (See Exhibit B for details on deer taken in 2012.) It is important to state that it is not the City's intent to eradicate deer from the community. 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 prior to the program's implementation. As we have continued our efforts and as the population has dropped, complaints have subsided. Our Control Program has been publicized in the City's newsletter and been the subject of conversation at many Council Meetings. In 2011, the City's Community Survey was completed. We specifically asked about our wildlife control programs. The results of that survey show support for this type of effort with 59% deeming this program essential or very important and only 9% calling it "unimportant ". Furthennore, when discussing funding of this program, 78% wanting to maintain or increase the service while 21% wanted to cut or eliminate funding. It should also be noted that "out-of-pocket" expenditures for the deer control program are very low relative to the City's Budget and run less than $1,000 per year. There is staff time devoted to coordinating the program that is not accounted for in that number. 3 3