Sponsor: Parks & Recreation
Title
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Ramsey County 2022 Cooperative Deer Management Plan
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Recommendation
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Approve the Ramsey County Cooperative Deer Management Plan for 2022.
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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 for the removal of deer on Ramsey County properties. The cities of Saint Paul, Maplewood, Little Canada, Vadnais Heights, Shoreview and White Bear Township are participants in the Cooperative Deer Management Plan
The plan’s management of deer populations in Ramsey County is through the use of archery and/or sharp shooting, in cooperation with neighboring municipalities. Deer populations that exceed the 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 2021, a total of 447 deer were observed within the survey boundaries. In the fall of 2021, 50 deer were harvested through special archery hunts with an additional 50 deer harvested through sharp shooting.
In the 2022 Cooperative Deer Management Program, the Parks & Recreation department, in cooperation with the affected municipalities, proposes conducting special archery hunts during the regular archery season, running from October 7, 2022, to December 18, 2022. These hunts will occur on seven county sites and four non-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 54-80 deer. Sharpshooting is also proposed in select areas which could remove up to 20-30 additional deer. Ramsey County Parks & 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.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☐ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☐ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Many of the areas showing high density deer populations also represent some of Ramsey County’s most diverse populations, such as the Highwood neighborhood. These neighborhoods are unequally adversely affected with more deer/car collisions and have the potential for increased tick-borne illness.
Community Participation Level and Impact
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 & Recreation department maintains past/current data from the implementation of each year’s Cooperative Deer Management Plan on the Ramsey County Open Data portal bringing an informative and data driven story to residents. <https://data.ramseycounty.us/stories/s/64f4-mkvq>
☒ 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 2022 Cooperative Deer Management Plan, rental of a helicopter for aerial counts and a contribution of up to $5,000 towards the cost of the sharpshooter. Funding for these costs is included in the approved 2022-23 Parks and Recreation operating budget.
Last Previous Action
On July 6, 2021, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved the 2021 Cooperative Deer Management Program (Resolution B2021-154).
On December 14, 1999, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved the first Cooperative Deer Management Plan and directed the Director of Parks & Recreation to present specific deer management activities to the board prior to implementation (Resolution 99-500).
Attachments
1. Ramsey County Cooperative Deer Management Program