Highland Heights Deer Problem Put in Perspective

Highland Heights Police Chief James Cook said the city doesn't have a serious problem with its deer population.

He addressed City Council's Committee of the Whole, which discussed the matter Tuesday after a Wilson Mills Road resident complained about deer invading her yard and wrecking her garden.

Cook said the city gets about 270 calls a year about animal complaints and about 10 percent of those involve deer – 29 in 2008, 25 in 2009, 16 in 2010 and nine so far this year.

There are about 275 car accidents a year in Highland Heights and the number that involved deer were 15 in 2008, 11 in 2009, 11 in 2010 and five so far in 2011. He said Mentor had 87 accidents involving deer last year and Solon had about 70.

"We're nowhere near that point in this city," he said.

Service Director Thom Evans researched options available to the city and what is being done to control deer populations elsewhere. Two methods – contraception and trapping and relocation – cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. There are two less-expensive options, but they are removal by sharpshooters or bow hunters and are controversial.

In Solon, $782,925 was spent on sharpshooters from 2005 to 2009 and that city is looking to reduce costs by using bow hunters. Mentor is counting its deer population to assess need. Cost of the count is estimated at $250 per acre.

Councilwoman Cathy Murphy noted that this is the third time the city has talked about concerns with its deer population.

"I do think it is consistent with what we said in the past," she said. "We really are not facing a serious, immediate threat."

However, she said deer are a nuisance and the city should look into what can be done in terms of land management and what plants can be used to discourage deer.

Resident Amy Feran said one problem is that people have been feeding deer. She added that she hoped the city would not start declaring war on animals.