Thursday, March 7, 2013
Helicopter survey deemed necessary prior to start of culling program.
If you see a helicopter flying overhead this week, don’t be alarmed. The helicopter, which will include an Avon Lake police officer, will be flying over Avon Lake attempting to count the number of deer inhabiting the city. The city is waiting for the first snowfall, which enables the helicopter’s occupants to more easily spot the deer. “We will be seeing a helicopter; it will be flying in a grid formation recording deer,” Avon Lake Mayor Greg Zilka said. When the count occurs depends on the weather. On March 4, Zilka said Wednesday was a possibility due to potential snow, but on March 6, his office said a flight wasn’t scheduled because of lack of snowfall. The city has put aside $4,000 for the helicopter survey. They have contracted with …
Friday, February 22, 2013
Wilhelm's Patch blog about deer crossing signs and whether deer can read got lots of attention, although most of it wasn't very nice.
If you haven’t read the blog from Avon-Avon Lake Patch blogger Kathleen O’Brien Wilhelm about the deer crossing sign, please come out from the rock you are hiding under. Wilhelm’s blog, Animals Can’t Talk, was posted on Feb. 10, and got widespread attention on Feb. 16, when a popular website, buzzfeed.com, shared the link just before 3:30 p.m. Gawker.com, which focuses on celebrities and the media industry, reposted the blog, which earned more than 27,000 page views on that site alone. The blog inaccurately referred to Wilhelm as a columnist at first, then amending her to a blogger. (Bloggers are not employees of Patch.) After spinning around the Internet for a few days, Cleveland-area media jumped on board. The Chronicle-Telegram did a …
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Hunting program could start this fall
Almost two years after initial discussions were first brought forward concerning culling a growing herd of white-tailed deer in Avon Lake, city council approved legislation allowing hunting, 6-1. Councilman Larry Meiners cast the lone “no” vote opposing the legislation. The legislation, which has undergone numerous changes resulting in part from hours of comments —often heated— by the public, now permits culling but only by an appointee by the police department, a qualified city employee or a contractual agent. Culling will be permitted in very specific areas. The Avon Lake Police Department would oversee the culling program and already have an officer selected as the probable sharpshooter. Some questions remain, including exactly where …
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Revised legislation also prohibits private hunting.
New deer management legislation proposed by the city of Avon Lake on Dec. 3 has significant changes, including adding language that prohibits deer culling near school, day care centers and churches. “If your concern is hunting near school, daycare or churches, that item has been removed,” Councilman David Kos said. Kos had previously asked for an adjustment to the legislation at a November meeting, but did not receive support at the time. City leaders discussed a new ordinance that vastly different than the draft unveiled in November at the Dec. 3 City Council meeting. “It’s changed significantly since we first met,” Councilman Rob James, who is sponsoring the legislation, said. Council members said they made the change after receiving …
Council's new deer ordinance removes some hunting on private property.
BY: Mr. James TEMP NO: ____ ORDINANCE NO. ___________ AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING TOOLS TO MANAGE THE WHITE-TAILED DEER POPULATION WITHIN THE CITY OF AVON LAKE WHEREAS, the overpopulation of white-tailed deer within the City of Avon Lake negatively impacts public health and safety primarily due to an excessive number of deer-related vehicular accidents, as well as destruction of natural habitats and biodiversity, increases the risk of disease transmission to humans from deer parasites, and damage to private and public property; and, WHEREAS, the Environmental Affairs Advisory Board considered and studied various options to control the deer population, with the assistance and input from Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the …
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Hunting? No hunting? Some hunting? Or, add your suggestion below.
One of the hottest topics in Avon Lake, “deer management,” will be discussed at a joint Safety Committee and Environmental Committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 3. The city has been considering a number of options including utilizing sharpshooters, allowing bow and arrow hunting and birth control, to control the number of deer. The issue has brought out supporters on both sides, many of whom are expected to be present at the Dec. 3 meeting, held at 5:30 p.m. in Council chambers at City Hall. We’re asking our readers: What do you support? Take our poll below and share your concerns in the comment section below.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Resident says ordinance as drafted focuses on "hunting" as opposed to "culling" the deer herd
To the Editor: I was at the Nov. 15 Council meeting to discuss the proposed Ordinance regarding bow-hunting in Avon Lake. From the comments that came at the Nov. 15 meeting, all but one was anti-hunting. It is apparent that the residents of Avon Lake do not want "hunting" within the city limits. But by the same token, they realize the need to control the deer population. I believe the Ordinance as drafted focuses on "hunting" as opposed to "culling" the deer herd. To me, these are two different things. Hunting is a sport. Culling is a means to an end. I found the proposed Ordinance to be extremely broad in its language. It leaves the door wide open to allow bow hunting at any time - given the discretion of the Mayor. It does not designate …
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Full text of proposed amendment to Avon Lake's hunting ordinance.
- GOVERNMENT
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Wednesday, November 14, 2012
BY: Mr. James TEMP NO: ____ DRAFT ORDINANCE NO. _ ______ AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING TOOLS TO MANAGE THE WHITE-TAILED DEER POPULATION WITHIN THE CITY OF AVON LAKE WHEREAS, the overpopulation of white-tailed deer within the City of Avon Lake negatively impacts public health and safety primarily due to an excessive number of deer-related vehicular accidents, as well as destruction of natural habitats and biodiversity, increases the risk of disease transmission to humans from deer parasites, and damage to private and public property; and, WHEREAS, the Environmental Affairs Advisory Board considered and studied various options to control the deer population, with the assistance and input from Ohio …
Meeting Thursday night is first to discuss amendments to city's current "no hunting" law to allow gun, bow hunting.
Draft legislation expected to be discussed at a meeting Thursday, Nov. 15, would allow deer hunting by firearm in 2013-14 if the legislation is approved. The ordinance is part of the city’s deer management program. The legislation, drafted by Councilman Rob James, proposes that Ordinance 618.12, which currently prohibits hunting with firearms or “other weapons” in Avon Lake be amended. The draft says by the end of 2013-14, the director of public safety, the position currently held by the acting mayor, can declare hunting season of white-tailed deer by ODNR employees. Click here to see proposed draft ordinance The ordinance allows the Safety Director to develop and implement a deer management plan directing the Avon Lake Police Department …
Saturday, November 10, 2012
A year has passed, is there a solution in sight?
Dear Avon Lake City Council: It has been one year since discussion was presented regarding too many deer and the need to cull them. Since then there's been consideration to ask residents not to feed them, give deer birth control to these dumb destructive animals, but not, no, nothing regarding killing these dangerous, dumb animals. Will you be responsible for doing nothing? Deer are in pockets by Giant Eagle on Walker Road, near the Ohio Assembly Plant, down Miller Road, and on Walker and Jaycox. Motorists have swerved and crossed the medium, been hit by these animals and yet council has not acted to eliminate this problem. Laughingly, if these deer were bear, vicious dogs, or mosquitoes something might be done sooner than later, but deer…
Andrea S
8:48 pm on Monday, April 22, 2013
I run through Kopf A LOT and I gotta say there are WAY less deer than there was a few months ago...I used to see several dozen during my run and now I usually don't count even 10. more ›