Sponsor: Parks & Recreation
Title
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Ramsey County 2024 Cooperative Deer Management Plan
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Recommendation
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Approve the Ramsey County Cooperative Deer Management Plan for 2024.
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Background and Rationale
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On December 14, 1999, by Resolution 99-500, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved the Cooperative Deer Management Plan. The cities of Saint Paul, Maplewood, Little Canada, Vadnais Heights, Shoreview and White Bear Township are participants in the Cooperative Deer Management Plan that involves the removal of deer on Ramsey County properties.
The Cooperative Deer Management Plan seeks to manage the deer populations in the county through the use of archery and/or sharp shooting, in cooperation with neighboring municipalities. Deer populations that exceed the social or carrying capacity of the land can be detrimental to the overall health of the herd and impact the public through increased car/deer collisions and through the spread of deer ticks that may carry Lyme disease.
Ramsey County sets population goals of 15-20 deer per square mile of deer habitat, as recommended by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The deer population exceeds the overall goal of 15-20 per square mile of deer habitat in certain areas.
During the most recent survey, conducted in 2022, a total of 175 deer were observed within the survey boundaries. In the fall of 2023, 72 deer were harvested through the special archery hunts and an additional 30 deer were harvested through sharp shooting.
Based on the 2024 Program, the Parks and Recreation department, in cooperation with the affected municipalities, proposes conducting special archery hunts during the regular archery season, to run from October 21 to December 15, 2024, on seven county sites. Participants for these hunts will be selected by the Metro Bowhunters Resource Base. It is anticipated that these special archery hunts will remove 45-62 deer. Sharpshooting is proposed in select areas with elevated populations. No areas meet these criteria at this time. Parks and Recreation staff have worked with the United States Department of Agriculture and local Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officers to donate all deer harvested through sharp shooting to those in need.
The Ramsey County Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed the 2024 Cooperative Deer Management Program.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☐ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Deer density has prompted continued deer control in some of Ramsey County’s most diverse communities, such as Battle Creek Regional Park. The removal will reduce herd stress, deer car collisions and lower the potential for tick-borne illness within this area.
Community Participation Level and Impact
The Deer Management Plan is a cooperative effort that involves the county and affected municipalities. In addition, the Ramsey County Parks and Recreation Commission, a citizen advisory group appointed by the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners, annually reviews and offers input to the plan.
Through participation with Metro Bowhunters Resource Base, a non- profit organization that collaborates with residents to keep deer herds at sustainable levels, residents are empowered to care for Ramsey County natural resources and collaborate with their neighbors to maintain healthy deer herds. Any deer harvested by sharp shooting is donated to families in need.
The Parks and Recreation department maintains past and current data from the implementation of each year' s Cooperative Deer Management Plan on the Ramsey County Open Data portal bringing informative and data driven story to residents.
☒ Inform ☐ Consult ☒ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
Costs to the county for this program include staff time for the deer counts and coordination of the plan, rental of a helicopter for aerial counts and a contribution of up to $5,000 towards the cost of the sharpshooter if this management tool is required. Funding for these costs is included in the 2024 operating budget of the Parks and Recreation department.
Last Previous Action
On August 8, 2023, the Ramsey County Board approved the 2023 Cooperative Deer Management Plan (Resolution B2023-126).
Attachments
1. 2024 Ramsey County Cooperative Deer Management Plan