Mendota Heights Deer Management Plan, Expanded Hunt Under Review

 If you’ve observed an increase in the number of deer visiting your backyard this year, you’re not alone.

 “Within the last year we have seen a marked change in number of deer in our yard,” explained resident George Carter at the . “We see them daily morning and night, feasting on our shrubbery and trees.” 

Council member Liz Petschel agreed.

“There’s a difference between deer and herds of deer, which is what we’re beginning to see,” she responded during the discussion.

Like other cities around the metro area, Mendota Heights has a plan in place to manage the deer population. The city’s current deer management plan was adopted in 1995. According to Police Chief Michael Aschenbrener, eight controlled hunts have taken place since 1995, and a 2011 hunt is scheduled for this fall. The hunts have generally occurred on private property in the area bordered by Wentworth, Dodd, Marie and Delaware.

For the hunts, Mendota Heights officials work with the Metro Bowhunters Resource Base (MBRB). The organization works with 22 local communities to coordinate safe, controlled hunts.

“(MBRB has) a very set protocol as to how they allow hunting under their guidance. There’s hunter training, verifying training, testing the hunters, going to each homeowner or landowner that they are working with,” Aschenbrener said. 

One Hunt Not Enough?

But the typical hunt, and the current deer management plan, may not be enough to control current deer numbers. While updated Mendota Heights deer population numbers are not known, Chief Aschenbrener mentioned during the Sept. 20 meeting that the sustainable number of deer per square acre is four, while Sunfish Lake had a recent deer count numbering over 100 deer per square acre.

Carter is asking the city to consider an additional hunt next year. Aschenbrener has said it is a possibility, depending on the research that occurs before the Council sets their 2012 goals.

At their Oct. 4 meeting, the council approved a motion authorizing city staff to develop a new deer management plan and a contract to conduct a deer count. The plan will inform city officials whether or not an expanded hunt into other areas of the city would be beneficial, and the matter would come up before the city council.

“We have requests to hunt other areas,” said Aschenbrener. “The council would have to decide what they think of more area.”

While a high deer population in an urban area can have many effects, including property damage, but the primary concern is safety. 

“Some of this is currently controlled by bumper and grill,” said Aschenbrener at the meeting, noting that there have been three deer-related car accidents on Marie Avenue this year. “It’s dangerous for motorists and really not a humane way to take care of the deer.”

At this time, according to Aschenbrener, there have not been enough complaints about other wildlife, such as turkeys, to warrant action on those populations.