By AL STOVER
Staff Reporter 

Medical Lake deer committee tweaks proposed ordinance

Fines for feeding animals proposed, bow hunting along city’s perimeter discussed

 

Last updated 12/19/2014 at 9:27am



The Medical Lake Citizens Deer Advisory Committee continued to make strides in addressing the city’s deer issue at its Dec. 10 meeting.

Committee chair Russ Brown presented a modified draft of an ordinance that prohibits residents from intentionally feeding the deer. The committee was scheduled to forward the ordinance to the City Council at the latter’s Dec. 16 meeting.

One addition Brown and his subcommittee made to the ordinance was to include language that prohibits residents from feeding elk, moose and other cervids — mammals that are a part of the deer family. Corey Stevens, Medical Lake assistant fire chief, asked if the ordinance would apply to residents who have chickens or turkeys. Candace Bennett, wildlife conflict specialist with the Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife, said she would further modify the ordinance to state that it does not apply to domesticated animals.

Another change to the ordinance exempts city employees from being cited for feeding the deer for “professional purposes.”

“Professional purposes would apply if the city’s animal control officer who is feeding a deer to capture it or a city employee is using food to lure the animal into a trap,” Brown said.

A resident who violates the ordinance the first time will be charged a $50 fine with court fees. The fine increases to $100 for a second violation, $150 for a third and $250 for each subsequent offense. Those who violate the ordinance will also receive educational materials explaining why feeding the deer is harmful to the animal’s biology.

Bennett suggested sending out information to residents ahead of time, as well as have the city post it on its website.

“The hope is that the city and residents would share this information with others,” Bennett said.

Bennett also shared the findings of the Dec. 6 deer count. Bennett explained that the committee found 87 deer within the city limits during the afternoon. She compared that count to the deer survey she conducted in April where she only spotted 16 deer in the city. According to Bennett, there are several factors that contribute to the number of deer that roam into the city including weather and food sources. She added that the committee would continue to conduct deer surveys.

“Each count can tell you a little bit more,” Bennett said.

The committee also debated its next steps. Stevens suggested the committee ask the city to change the wording in the ordinance to allow hunters to use archery equipment within the city for hunting purposes.

“We don’t have to hunt downtown,” Stevens said. “We allow hunters to hunt the perimeter of the city so they won’t hunt close to a generally populated area.”

Bennett said the committee would further discuss the possibility of hunting and providing education to the schools at its Jan. 14, 2015 meeting.

Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.

 

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