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Home My WebLink AboutA017 - Round Table discussion on white tail deer 1 l ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON WHITE TAIL DEER IN AMES 1. Introduction—Petition from the Northwood Drive Neighborhood Group Loras Jaeger 2. Information Meeting with Northwood Drive Neighborhood Group Lorna Lavender 3. Health Issues: Lyme Disease, Deer Ticks, and White Tail Deer Dr. Ken Holscher, Iowa State University, Department of Entomology Dr. James Pease, Iowa State University, Department of Natural Resource and Ecology and Management 4. Aerial Survey Results Bill B�nger, Depredation Biologist, Iowa Department of Natural Resources 5. Possible Deer Control Strategies Loras Jaeger Lorna Lavender 6. Next Steps STAFF REPORT DEER MANAGEMENT CONCERNS June 20, 2006 Introduction Several months ago,residents living in the Northwood Drive area of north Ames presented a petition to the City requesting help in controlling the deer population. Preliminary Information Meeting In November 2005, an informational meeting was held and included the following persons: • Debbie Gitchell,Northwood Drive Neighborhood Representative • James L. Pease, Ph.D.,Extension Wildlife Specialist, Iowa State University Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management • Bill Burger, Depredation Biologist, Iowa Department of Natural Resources • Ken Holscher, Associate Professor, Iowa State University Department of Entomology • Kevin Anderson, City Sanitarian • Lorna Lavender, City Animal Control Supervisor • Lorns Jaeger, City Police Chief The meeting provided those present with additional information on the deer issues: 1. It is widely known that urban deer hunting does not control or reduce Lyme disease. 2. It is not possible to eliminate ticks,but it is possible that the habitat can be modified. 3. Homemade tick traps are a good way of determining tick activity in a homeowner's yard. 4. Urban bow hunting has been proven effective in reducing the numbers of deer, as long as it is done for a number of years. Keep in mind that public opposition, animal rights, fear of injury issues will surface if hunting inside the city is proposed. 5. Urban deer hunts have helped some residents in other communities preserve their plantings. 6. There are proven deterrents and planting techniques to discourage feeding. 7. Fencing off deer is a very costly endeavor. 8. Education and information is very important. 9. In Iowa, it is not known if urban hunts have resolved the actual number of complaints from residents. This issue has not been evaluated. 10.There are residents in Ames that feed and attract wildlife. Recommended next steps: 1. Understand the health issue surrounding Lyme disease and deer. 2. Identify deer/vehicle accidents reported to the Ames Police Department. 3. Conduct a helicopter flyover to assess the number of deer in Ames. Health Issue—Lyme Disease One of the concerns noted in the petition from the Northwood Neighborhood group was the fear that deer were causing Lyme disease in that area. The answer to this question is that they do not cause Lyme disease,but they are hosts to the tick reproduction cycle. Dr. Ken Holscher, ISU Entomologist, advises that as the deer tick goes through its life cycle, it needs blood and will find their way onto warm blooded mammals, such as a white tail deer. Because the population of white tail deer has increased statewide and into urban areas, it provides more food for the deer ticks. But, according to Dr.Holscher, when there have been programs in place to reduce the number of deer in order to reduce the number of ticks and then Lyme disease, it has had little impact. The ticks simply find another warm blooded source. The real creature to get rid of is mice (which is almost impossible);because it is through mice and birds that the tick cycle begins. Generally,ticks attach to a person or animal near ground level. They crawl and do not jump or fly as some believe. They grab onto people or animals who brush against vegetation in which they are sitting on and they then crawl upward. Vehicle/Deer Accidents A search of Ames Police accident data involving vehicles/deer showed a total of 49 for the years 2002 - 2005. 2002 - 11 reported 2003 - 11 reported 2004 - 8 reported 2005 — 19 reported Aerial Survey Results On February 21,2006, a Bell Jet helicopter was used to conduct a fly over of the Ames area to survey the deer population. Observers were Bill Bunger and Willie Suchy. City Animal Control Supervisor Lorna Lavender assisted with navigation. (See attached survey results authored by Bill Bunger,DNR) There were 285 deer counted. Segment 2 had the highest number with 136 deer observed. That segment borders the Northwood Drive area,but also includes a portion that is outside the Ames city limits. Of the 136 counted, 60%were outside the city,but it can be assumed that many of this number will come into our community. 2 Deer Control Methods in Other Iowa Cities The Police Department contacted over 100 Iowa cities that are part of the Iowa Police Executive Forum e-mail discussion list requesting information on deer control methods their city had undertaken. The Iowa City Managers Association Grapevine e-mail discussion list was also contacted. The following cities responded: • Coralville (allow bow hunting season) • Dubuque (allow bow hunting season) • Elkader (allow bow hunting season) • Cedar Rapids (allow bow hunting season) • Des Moines (allow bow hunting season) • Iowa City(paid sharpshooters) • Davenport (allow bow hunting season) • West Des Moines (allow bow hunting season) • Iowa Falls (allow bow hunting season) • Algona(allow bow hunting season) • Denison(allow bow hunting season) • Urbandale (allow bow hunting season) Follow-up Information Meeting On March 21,2006 a follow-up information meeting was held to review the aerial survey results. Present of that meeting included: • Debbie Gitchell,Northwood Drive Neighborhood Representative • Bill Burger,Depredation Biologist, Iowa Department of Natural Resources • Steve Schainker, City Manager • Bob Kindred, Assistant City Manager • Lorna Lavender, City Animal Control Supervisor • Loras Jaeger, City Police Chief Following a review of the data collected during the fly over, Bill Burger provided information on controlled hunts, if the City would authorize this type of control/thinning solution. The management technique of controlled bow hunts is the most recommended means of thinning deer in a city. Mr. Burger will contact the DNR Commission and request more bow licenses be made available in Story County. Two deer management zones could be established: • Zone One—the area inside the Ames city limits (which the City would control) (we would recommend hunting in segment 2 and segment 8). • Zone Two—the area immediately surrounding the Ames city limits The best limited bow hunting period inside the Ames city limits would be September 15th through October 31st 3 1 If the city agreed to allow bow hunting within the city limits, DNR would assign a specific number of licenses to a single vendor in the city(example 100 licenses). The city would then set hunter requirements. Possible Ordinance Recommendations The following is the hunter requirements that have been established by the City of West Des Moines: Each hunter would need a City of West Des Moines (Ames)hunting permit. In order to receive a permit, the following would be needed: 1. Special State of Iowa Antlerless Deer License for urban hunting. Cost$26 for 1" license, $11 for each additional. Hunters ages 16-65 must also have a current wildlife habitat stamp and a regular hunting license. 2. Completion of a bowhunter safety education course. Offered at area archery ranges &Izaak Walton Leagues. 3. Passing an archery proficiency test using the bow with which the hunter will use to hunt. Offered at Archery Field& Sports. Must score 80% or better shooting 20 arrows: 10 from 15 yards and 10 from 20 yards. The number of City permits issued at any one time should be limited to the acceptable number of hunters that (a specific or a number of)park(s) could support at any one time. This would likely mean that some hunters would be placed on a waiting list. Once a deer is harvested by one hunter,the next person on the waiting list would be allowed to hunt. Other Requirements Other Polk County agencies currently implementing controlled hunts require some or all of the following: 1. All Iowa DNR rules covering bow hunting of deer must be followed by the hunter. 2. Only antlerless deer may be harvested unless hunting under a buck incentive program. 3. All bows must be cased while traveling to and from the hunting stand. 4. All shots must be taken from an elevated stands. All stands must be portable with no permanent stands erected or screw-in steps used. 5. All stands must be located a minimum of two hundred(200) feet from any residence or building or within seventy-five (75) feet of any trail or road. 6. Hunters should know their effective shooting range and not shoot beyond that range. Recommended shots are from 25 yards or less. 7. Hunters should be aware of what is downrange of their hunting stand and attempt to retrieve all arrows. 8. A West Des Moines (Ames) Animal Control Officer should be contacted within 12 hours if unable to locate a wounded deer. 9. Proper field dressing techniques should be used. Entrails should not be left in a conspicuous location. 10. All deer meat must be processed or given to charity. 4 11. Private property must be respected in all cases. 12. The City permit, State license, and all other documentation must be carried at all times while hunting. Next Steps If the City Council is interested in managing the deer population, it is recommended that the Police Department work with both the City Attorney's office and the Department of Natural Resources in developing an ordinance to allow bow hunting within the city limits with the limitations listed above. 5