WTOL.com, Toledo's News Leader, News 11 | Ottawa Hills to decide whether to cull its deer population
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By Jonathan Walsh - bio | email
Posted by Dave Dykema - email
OTTAWA HILLS, OH (WTOL) - The Village of Ottawa Hills is examining whether or not to hire sharpshooters to control its deer population.
Leaders with the village say in the past three years there have been many more complaints from people about deer damaging property and creating dangerous situations on roads.
Ottawa Hills doesn't allow hunting, so if the village was to hire a firm to cull the deer population, an amendment must be passed.
They will vote on that idea later this month.
Donna Wiley says it's time to do something about the deer problem. "Honestly it's not uncommon to see 15 deer in my front yard. My sister lives next door and when the acorns fall they stand in her driveway and eat her acorns. They sleep in my backyard."
They eat her bushes, stare through her windows, and walk all over the roads.
Late Wednesday afternoon it took all of five minutes for News 11 to find some deer close to houses, eating an early dinner.
Village Manager Marc Thompson says the village has requested a permit from the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources to kill 50 deer within the village boundaries.
He also says a company called White Buffalo Inc. Has been contacted about possibly helping the situation. White Buffalo's website says it helps "Restore the natural balance" with techniques like "Sharpshooting," "Controlled Hunting," and more. The cost is roughly $25,000.
Thompson says meat from the kills would help feed the hungry.
Tedd Goldblatt's family sees deer all the time and doesn't like the proposal. "We have no problem with them. They've never created any problem whatsoever. I think it's kind of foolish. I understand some people have a problem with them but killing them off isn't the right answer to it."
Rob Slater opposes the idea, too. So he set up a website where people can sign a petition against it and leave comments. For the website, follow the links below or click on the Big Red Box.
The proposal will be voted on at the village's November 23 meeting.
Ottawa Hills opposition to deer culling proposal: www.villagedeer.com
To send comments: villagedeer@hotmail.com
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