Local municipalities discuss ideas for controlling deer population

Tue, Dec 8, 2009    to del.icio.us

As 2009 draws to a close, so does Grand Haven's first year running a program aimed at controlling the urban deer population.

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It was reported by City Manager Pat McGinnis during Monday night's City Council meeting that 50 deer were harvested in city limits this year. Four deer were taken at Grand Haven Memorial Airport, three at Lake Forest Cemetery, 19 on Harbor Island and 24 at Mulligan's Hollow.

McGinnis said the cost of these efforts — which includes the cost to process and reduce the deer population — totaled $9,624.

City officials are awaiting the U.S. Department of Agriculture to bill the city for services rendered in November, which will be issued at the end of the month.

McGinnis said there has also been a downward trend in relation to deer damage complaints from May 2008 to last month.

"Car/deer accidents have been steady over the last several years," he said.

According to McGinnis, car/deer accidents typically range from 10 to 11 per year, with more occurring in the townships.

There are also plans to conduct a field study using students from Grand Valley State University as part of a "deer census," the city manager said.

In terms of the Grand Haven Planning Commission using zoning laws to promote fences as a way to keep deer out of residential yards, city officials say the complex issue can't be solved using a simple measure such as fences and costly roadside warning systems.

"We'd need to take a broad look at what the problem is and how they would fix it," McGinnis said.

To take a better look at the deer management issue, he suggested looking at looking at herd trends and even looking at a deer census. The city is recommending the use of GVSU students to take part in the count.

Neighboring jurisdictions are also looking at the effects of the deer population.

At its meeting Monday night, Ferrysburg City Council filled two open seats on that city's Deer Advisory Board. Council voted in October to expand the number of board members from five to seven.

Scott Blease and Eric Deiters were appointed to the deer board, but not without some debate.

Councilman Tom Spoelman also expressed interest in sitting on the deer board, but Councilman Chris Larson thought there were too many council members already serving on the board.

"It could give the bad reflection that we're perhaps stacking the committee as our own," Larson said.

Councilmembers Regina Sjoberg and Dan Ruiter already sit on the board, and Tim Scarpino — who served on City Council until November — is the board's chairman.

Mayor Jeff Stille agreed with Larson, saying it is important to have as many citizens on the board as possible.

"We're going to have our chance (for input) up here (as councilmembers)," Stille said.

Council hopes to have a recommendation as what to do with the city's deer population from the board in June 2010.

Blease was eventually unanimously appointed to the board with a unanimous vote, and Deiters was selected by a 4-3 vote.

A professed hunter, some councilmembers were concerned Deiters may be biased in his recommendations. Stille, Sjoberg and Ruiter cast the votes against his appointment.

"Just because he's expressing an opinion, I don't think that should rule him out," Councilman John Stafford said.