Statesman: Deer forum in Northwest Hills draws 125 residents

Deer forum in Northwest Hills draws 125 residents
Some wary of how city might reduce deer population
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/deer-forum-in-northwest-hills-draws-125-residents-1199551.html?cxtype=ynews_rss

Ricardo B. Brazziell/AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Published: 11:49 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011

What was billed as an educational meeting Thursday night about a city ordinance prohibiting the intentional feeding of deer quickly turned into a fact-finding mission for some Northwest Hills residents about the possible harvesting of neighborhood deer.

But Shannon Jones, assistant director of the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department, repeatedly said the city's main focus was to educate residents about the ordinance and enforce it.

"We have not made any decisions," Jones said in response to a woman's question about whether the city was considering trapping deer and harvesting them for meat. "We are still studying this," he said, adding the City Council will make a decision on what to do about the overpopulation of deer in the neighborhood.

Some among the 125 people at the meeting at Doss Elementary School said they didn't trust the city's handling of the deer issue.

"Even though (Jones) said it, we want to see it in writing," said Teresa Sansone Ferguson, one of the organizers of the new DeerAustin group that is opposed to deer harvesting.

In November, Plateau Land and Wildlife Management, a Dripping Springs consulting firm hired by the city for $7,500 to count deer in the 78731 ZIP code, told city officials that a population of 400 or more deer in the area was at a crisis level.

The firm suggested removing deer by trapping, transporting and processing the deer for meat or using sharpshooters.

Many residents say they love the deer and believe they contribute to the beauty of the neighborhood. Others are fed up with deer tearing up the gardens and landscaping.

What has become clear is that a February 2009 ordinance that makes feeding deer a Class C misdeameanor — punishable by a fine of no more than $125 — is not working. Enforcing the law has been problematic because staffers from the city's Rodent and Vector Control Department must witness people feeding deer. So far, only five people — three of them in the 78731 ZIP code — have been cited, and two of the cases were settled in mediation.

Paul Trulove, who lives on Rockledge Drive, complained Thursday night that a neighbor on his street is responsible for "building a herd" by putting out hundreds of pounds of corn every month. "He's moved his operation to the backyard and feeding at night. People are doing it where they're diffcult to catch," he said.

Jones urged residents to file complaints in Municipal Court when they see people feeding deer.

It was evident that groups like DeerAustin and the Northwest Austin Civic Association are at odds over the issue. The association is polling its 400 dues-paying members on the association's recommendation that the city "engage in a program to reduce the deer population by the most humane method possible." The association will present its vote to the city next month.

"We have no agenda," said Richard Anton, the association's president. "All we're doing is trying to find out what our members want to recommend to the city."

Robin Abbott of DeerAustin said she wants the city to include her group in the process. Jones assured her that any interested neighborhood group or association will be kept informed as the city continues to study the deer issue.

rgandara@statesman.com; 445-3632