Deer Feeding Ban Moves Forward in Avon Lake
Bird feeders hung at heights lower than six feet now will be acceptable.
Photos
A hearing on a proposed city law that would ban feeding deer brought out more than 100 people to the Environmental Affairs Advisory Board meeting on Monday, many of whom complained about damage caused by the animals and asked for ways to thin the herd.
Dozens of residents spoke of property damage, accidents and overly aggressive deer.
In the end, the EAAB eliminated a clause that made hanging a bird feeder lower than six feet off the ground a violation of the law. The original proposal included a ban on putting out any feed under a height of six feet, including bird feeders, because deer are attracted to the food.
Violations will be determined by the type of feed, quantity, device or method of feeding.
The proposal now moves to council.
EAAB Chairman Mike Sweeney said the intention was not to completely eliminate deer.
“We’re not trying to get rid of the deer, we’re trying to thin the herd,” Sweeney said. “This is just one piece, one chapter in the book.”
He said other ordinances, including those involving culling and bow-and-arrow hunting, would be reviewed down the road.
Some residents, including Hazel Chapman, supported the ordinance.
Chapman said she is afraid to sit in her backyard because the deer, which have jumped her fence in the past, now crash right through the fencing.
“This is a first step and we have to take it," Chapman said. "It’s absolutely necessary.”
Others disagreed with the ordinance for a variety of reasons.
“What evidence do you have feeding the deer is a nuisance to the neighborhood?” one resident asked.
“I don’t think the city should tell me what I can do in my on backyard. ... I don’t think we should starve them,” another resident said.
Resident James Smith said the ordinance was “a start.”
“It’s not going to dent (the population),” Smith said. “They’re totally out of their zone. They’re eating shrubs; it’s like a buffet. Nothing scares them. For my money, you’re not going to dent the deer problem.”
Several people noted that feeding the deer might prevent them from eating plants and others said the six-feet-high rule was not fair.
The penalty in the proposed ordinance says those in violation could be guilty of a minor misdemeanor and fined between $25 to $200. Defaulting on a payment could result in a jail sentence of up to 30 days.
The proposed ordinance still needs a full vetting by City Council before it can be enacted as a law.
Jason maddow
9:57 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012
I agree we should not feed the deer regular deer food. We should remove all gop endorsed candidates from the campaign trail by force and grind them up in a meat grinder and feed them to the deer. The trick would be a trick because the deer would die soon from the poisen food.
Then jennifer fenderbosch could find a private company that wants to retrofit all city vehicles with motors that run on deer carcasses.
This would solve our fuel and deer crisis along with the much worse problem we have with republicans.
Ken Prince
11:17 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
My wife and I walk our two Golden Retrievers through Kopf park on a fairly regular basis. Recently we've been noticing piles of dog food at various places along the paths. They all looked like the same brand of dry food, judging by the size and shape of the pellets. I would like to politely ask whoever is doing this to pull their head out of their backside and stop! The food gets wet, soggy and rancid and is a breeding place for germs that can get passed from one animal to another. Not to mention it’s not doing the deer any favors. The more they eat, the more they breed and the more there are to starve, spread disease amongst themselves and get hit by cars. I caught one of my dogs sniffing one of the piles and he is now being treated by the Vet for a 104 degree fever. Thanks, you idiot!