D Deer Committee Report C i R Feb. 12, 2013 Feb. 12, 2013 B a c k g r o u n d k d S e p t . 11, 2 0 12 TN T5 m e e t i n g o n d e e r • Co m m i t t e e f o r m e d t o s t u d y d e e r • p r o b l e m 5 5 6 r e s p o n s e s r e c e i v e d f r o m s u r v e y 6 i d f •
Deer Committee Report – Feb. 12, 2013 Survey results % SEE % EVERY RESPONSES DAILY FEW DAYS % LYME+ % CAR+ M Meadowbrook d b k 293 35 41 7 14 Near Eastside 2 0 0 0 0 Outer Comstock 32 13 22 9 6 Salt Springs Salt Springs 47 47 17 17 38 38 4 4 32 32 University 78 9 36 9 6 University Hill 1 100 0 0 0 Westcott Westcott 103 103 8 8 24 24 11 11 10 10 Grand Total 556 23 36 8 13
Deer Committee Report – Feb. 12. 2013 Sample of responses on Lyme disease - I got Lym e disease in June, 2009. I know I w as bitten w hile w orking in m y front yard garden. Fortunately I w as diagnosed early by m y daughter & w as successfully treated w ith antibiotics. I am not convinced m y doctor w ould have found the bite if I hadn't gone to the office w ith the diagnosis. (The bite w as in the crease behind m y knee ) I spent that entire sum m er suffering and recovering from crease behind m y knee.) I spent that entire sum m er suffering and recovering from the disease & continue to get regular blood tests to be sure it is under control. It w as a horrible experience I w ouldn't w ish on anyone and believe w e should do all w e can to control the carrier, deer. - My next door neighbor spends a significant am ount of m oney saving his one year old dog from the disease. I treat m y dogs and fam ily m em bers w ith antibiotics each tim e there is a tick bite. This is not som ething I w ish to do, but w ith the threat so high in the area to begin w ith, no am ount of preventative m easures are helping control the problem control the problem . - I tested positive for Lym e disease and w as in the hospital for a w eek. The Lym e disease triggered an autoim m une disease that I am still being treated for, and it has turned into a long-term condition has turned into a long-term condition.
Deer Committee Report – Feb. 12, 2013 Sampling of responses from open-ended questions - The back half of our yard is unusable due to the am ount of scat they leave. My children are not able to play in their ow n yard, due to the scat and w e fear ticks carrying Lym e disease (one of our neighbors found a deer tick on her ticks carrying Lym e disease (one of our neighbors found a deer tick on her cat). We have tried several m ethods to deter the deer from com ing into our yard, all unsuccessful. - Unfortunately as m uch as I like deer, I feel the problem in our area has f l h lik d f l h bl i h gotten out of control. The destruction of property and safety concerns for drivers really needs the attention of our elected officials. - The deer have destroyed shrubs w hich w ere planted long before w e purchased our property in 1989. This past year w e put in a perm anent deer fence around the garden at a cost of $1650.00. f g f 5
Deer Committee Report – Feb. 12, 2013 Sampling of responses from open-ended questions ( (continued) i d) - They've m ade it im possible for us to have a vegetable garden. They seem to eat everything except hot peppers. We have had a vegetable garden for over y g p p pp g g f 25 years, and this year w e gave up. - The deer invasion into residential areas MUST BE STOPPED! By any m eans! The devastation and the health/ safety risks carried are too high to tolerate! It The devastation and the health/ safety risks carried are too high to tolerate! It feels like living in a Hitchcock w orld... Yet, w orse, the city "codes" prevent us to build any defense, including a sim ple, alm ost invisible net!? - The deer are looking very thin and unhealthy. The herd should be m anaged so the healthy survive. There should be a special tax for this area to help solve the deer issues. If w e do nothing the problem w ill only keep getting w orse. The sooner w e can get som e action the better for the deer and the residents. g f
Deer Committee Report – Feb. 12, 2013 Comments in support of the deer - We really enjoy the deer, and they do not com e into our backyard because it is fenced in for our dogs, but w e have no fancy landscaping and no vegetable garden because w e know it w ill just get eaten by the deer That is fine w ith us garden because w e know it w ill just get eaten by the deer. That is fine w ith us. - We have a w ooded lot. Deer pass frequently. They are relatively harm less. We have m ore im portant issues to focus our lim ited resources on. We have m o e im po tant issues to focus ou lim ited esou ces on. - Let them live; enjoy them . Put up deer Xing signs on Euclid. Tell people w hat plants not to plant. p p - Killing unacceptable; m ove deer or spray to encourage them to m ove
Deer Committee Report – Feb. 12, 2013 Recommendations TNT5 should begin to work with its legislators and/ or relevant city agencies to formulate and then implement a y g p deer-management plan. If costs prove prohibitive, City should create a special tax district to pay for deer management di t i t t f d t A city agency should initiate a program to educate residents on how to protect plantings on how to protect plantings The city should allow eight foot fences on side and rear yards
Deer Committee Report – Feb. 12, 2013 Findings High level of concern and frustration with number of deer Problem needs to be addressed sooner rather than later Problem needs to be addressed sooner rather than later Overall environmental imbalance Disease and sanitation Deer/ vehicle accidents Damage to flora and other property Psychic impact of the deer infestation
Recommendations (continued) The County Health Department should educate residents regarding Lyme disease g g y A deer management plan could eventually be used in other areas of the city.
Deer Committee Report – Feb. 12, 2013 Questions or com m ents
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