2023 Vol 17, Issue 5 September Gem Lake News

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Gem Lake News Page 3 of 8 Metro Deer Management Meeting By Jim Lindner On a warm, humid summer morning, approximately 90 people from across the metro gathered at Silverwood Park in St. Anthony to discuss the Twin Cities’ urban deer population. Much of the conversation was centered on deer population management and how best to control the amount of deer in the city. Per Steven Hogg, wildlife supervisor with Three Rivers Park District, the primary source of deer control is, unfortunately, car/deer collisions. In 2020, in Hennepin County alone, there were nearly 900 car deer collisions. Hunters cannot keep pace with that rate. Deer studies are helpful in learning migration habits which may include deer crossing from park space onto private property. Helicopters make deer surveys possible, but remember, a survey is only a moment in time. People like to challenge the accuracy of surveys, but care is taken by the survey team to be as accurate as possible. The University of Minnesota also studies deer movement, primarily to better understand how diseased deer may be part of the population that traverses onto private property. Using Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove as a base, researchers Meggan Craft and James Forrester are studying movement habits. While deer typically do not make long migrations (it’s unlikely a deer from say Chanhassen will travel over 20 miles to Maple Grove), they will migrate from one end of large parks like Elm Creek to other areas, and perhaps wander onto private back yards. Deer tend to congregate more in winter and disperse in summer, but their movement is limited to areas of a few square miles. Craft and Forrester use tracking collars on deer so people may observe such deer in or around their property. It’s unlikely that these deer will find their way to Gem Lake, but if such a deer is seen, know that it defied common knowledge and wandered far from where it was first collared. While it’s always exciting to see deer in your yard, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recommends not feeding deer. Deer are like other animals, once they know where food sources are, they’ll hang around. They may stick around and eat your plants or cause other damage to your yard. The answer may not be increased regulatory actions, some of the burden falls upon residents to understand deer habits. Deer have been around for a lot longer than humans, and a lot longer than human settlement, they’re programmed to survive so they do what they feel is necessary. The focus of the presentations was clear, deer are a problem throughout the metro area, and they want to control populations in safe, efficient manners. Reducing the chances of car/deer accidents is one goal. Hunting is a last resort after other options have been exhausted. Understanding deer habits, knowing their movements, and developing management plans are all part of the process. Gem Lake often hosts an annual deer hunt but is not required to do so. The City Council will be discussing the 2023 deer population and deer herd management at a future meeting. According to Ramsey County’s survey taken in March for Gem Lake 23 deer were counted, one of the highest in the area.