Oakmont Borough moving forward with harvesting program to reduce deer population

Multiple deer including a buck with antlers grazing on grass near trees with houses and streetlights in the background at dusk

The borough of Oakmont has voted to move forward with a harvesting program to bring down its deer population. This has been a wildlife management tool used to great effect by other places before, including the city of Pittsburgh. While Oakmont is known for its famous golf course and bakery, it is now also known for a large deer population that residents have been reporting are all over both private and public property in the town.

On Tuesday night, the borough council voted to retain the services of Suburban Wildlife Management LLC to harvest some of Oakmont’s deer population. “This coming hunting season, when archery starts, through their vetting process, we will have hunters on public or private property, public that we identify and private property that meets the safety requirements, to allow archers to hunt deer,” said borough manager Scot Fodi.

The borough says there was no other way to manage the deer population in town. While fine details are still being worked out with the wildlife management company, there is some information residents should be aware of:

  • Archers will be vetted by the wildlife management company and known to the community and borough police when they are working
  • Hunters will not come onto private property without prior authorization
  • There are provisions in the agreement to donate a portion of the harvested meat to food banks
  • Borough hunting will coincide with archery season, which runs from September through
  • February After the season, if needed, the borough can opt for a sharpshooting phase of management

While the borough recognizes that some may find this management method a bit harsh, council has stated that even environmental groups like the Sierra Club cite it as the most humane. “We may take out 20 deer this year,” said Fodi. “It may be 10 next year, then 10 the next year, and 10 the year after that. It is just going to be part of the process now. The deer will come back. There is always going to be a deer population in Oakmont; we’re just trying to thin that crowd down.”

Source: Oakmont Borough moving forward with harvesting program to reduce deer population – CBS Pittsburgh

The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1

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City officials consider all options to reduce deer population in Beverly Hills, Michigan

three white tailed deer grazing in dover tennessee

Deterrents, deer hunting or trapping, and even deer birth control are among the options city officials are considering to lower the deer population in Beverly Hills.  “First and foremost problem we have is safety– we’re concerned we’re going to start seeing more car-deer accidents,” said Edward Arnold, the director of public safety for Beverly Hills.  Arnold said deer in the area like to make a feast of people’s gardens and tend to cross the street whenever they feel like it. He said that they can also be aggressive. “We had some reports that the deer would start to stomp with their hooves and then actually trotted after a person one time– someone said that it chased them and their dog back into their house,” Arnold said.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources spoke with local officials and residents earlier this month to outline their options, from trapping or hunting the deer to deterrents like wire to cover plants, to trapping and then sterilizing the deer so they can’t reproduce.  “The option might be education and promoting coexistence, and that might be the answer for their community if the goal is to reduce deer-vehicle collisions because they’ve seen an increase that would then lend itself to some sort of lethal management option,” said Kara Colton, a wildlife biologist with the DNR.  Arnold said that it is possible to have a firearm hunt within village limits. There would be restrictions on the time and place where hunters could discharge their firearms. Another option is an archery hunt.  He said village officials are considering all the options and will probably discuss them well into the summer.  “They’re going to want to have several more meetings; they’ll be public meetings, so residents are encouraged to come there and voice their opinion.

Source: City officials consider all options to reduce deer population in Beverly Hills, Michigan – CBS Detroit

For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth.
Job 19:25

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Video shows deer breaking into Minnesota Montessori school

Fierce stag with large antlers standing on a forest trail in autumn with misty mountains in the background

School was not in session over the holiday weekend, but a four-legged friend still managed to pay a visit to a Zimmerman, Minnesota, Montessori school. The entire incident lasted less than 10 minutes, but left Prairie Hill Montessori with a shattered door and quite the story to tell. “We got a call, we were up at our cabin… I was more concerned about the deer, which is just the way I am,” said Katherine Curtis, the school’s owner and instructor. Curtis says the entire moment was caught on CCTV. It shows the deer break through a tempered glass door before tearing through the building, knocking items off shelves and attempting to exit through another door.

Eventually, a local sheriff’s deputy responded and was able to shoo the deer out the door. “We were all like amazed at how fast it all happened. Actually, how fast the sheriff was able to get here,” Curtis said. On Tuesday, Curtis was using the incident as a teaching moment. The school had painted a life-size deer on the boarded-up door, and students were coloring deer photos. “All of the children came in this morning and reported to me what happened,” she said. “It’s unique. It’s something we can remember for years and we’ll have the video.

Source: Video shows deer breaking into Minnesota Montessori school – CBS Minnesota

For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 2:6

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