A decision by the Oshkosh Common Council Tuesday evening to kill deer in the Vulcan Quarry did not sit well with several residents who wanted to see the animals' lives spared.
The city council voted 6-1 to contract with Urban Wildlife Specialists to have sharpshooters come into the Vulcan Quarry area during a night between January and April to kill up to 40 deer that have been populating the area and reportedly destroying landscaping. The Common Council also voted 6-1 to allow a variance to city ordinance banning deer feeding and firearms in the city.
Councilor Tony Palmeri cast the lone votes against both measures.
An amendment proposed by Palmeri to table the ordinance until the city has more time to assess the issue was overturned. City staff has been working on the efforts to get the urban deer population under control over the past two years.
"Does deer culling work? I've found that it doesn't," Palmeri said.
The culling is being done to prevent the deer from multiplying and moving into other areas of the community and preventing car-deer crashes, said Oshkosh Police Department Chief Scott Greuel.
"I don't think they (the sharpshooters) will even be within eyeshot of any residences," Greuel said. "If the baiting effort is successful, I've been told we will only need one night."
Oshkosh Common Councilor Bryan Bain said culling deer in the area is a necessary move.
"I understand the emotion behind this … I don't think anyone up here has anything against deer," Bain said. "We have an obligation as a city council to deal with it now before it effects more of the community."
Around 10 people voiced their opposition during the city council meeting Tuesday against the move to hire sharpshooters; many stating alternative non-lethal methods should be used to curb the problem.
"I'm here to speak on behalf of the deer," said Janet Helstrom, 1706 Evans St., during the Tuesday night meeting. "I'm really upset about this and that it would come down to shooting the deer. I hope we will be able to work something else out."
Several others spoke out on the issue. Amy Haberkorn, 4711 Indian Bend Road, said a solution she created and sprays on her landscaping prevents deer from destroying the plants.
Karen Fiedler, 4697 Indian Bend Road, said deer destroyed a perennial garden on her three acres, but she still didn't think the deer should be killed.
"It's bittersweet. I love looking at the deer but the deer also, literally ate things to the ground in my yard," she said. "But to kill them would just be such a pity."
Source: Oshkosh Northwestern
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7 comments:
I am so totally disgusted with this city and their decision to slaughter the deer who have a home at the oshkosh vulcan quarry. I have a personal letter form John English president of vulcan quarry who states they encourage wildlife and by no means do they allow firearms or weapons on their property. Yet the city council because of a few people who had their gardens eaten by deer? how do they know that rabbits didnt do it? did you see? this is very selfish out of a town of 65000 people only 600 took the survey about the deer. Yet the 6 council members get to determine the fate of 40 deer. i am beyond words that this is going to be allowed. All i want to say is i sure hope those council members when they come back being reincarnated they better pray they arent deer at the oshkosh vulcan quarry. an eye for a eye
Well Oshkosh Take Cover Because tommorow jan 30 is the day set for the sharpshooters to come to oshkosh and shoot all of our beloved tame named deer. Look out this shoot starts at 5 pm when its nice and dark out you all better be in your basements hopefully no window and beware because a stray bullet can travel up to 1mile. this is what your 6 city council members voted to do a bullet is alot easier than to give us 1 more growing season. we had a homemade recipe with 3 ingrediants milk egg but they wanted to slaughter the 35 to 40 deer instead. It is a dirty shame in big cities people learn to live with the deer. a word of advice dont ever move to oshkosh WI. and RIP our beloved deer jan30 2009
I thought the government was "for the people by the people"...Kind of funny how landscape outweighs life. I work in the area, and on my drive to work, I look forward to the wildlife...I've seen huge hawks,just sitting in a tree by the restaurant, and these magnificent deer up on the ridge...Peaceful Nature in the middle of our hectic urban lives...now you bait them, get them to trust you, and OPEN FIRE!!! Nice...What happened to co-existing...why do we have to destroy everything? First it's the deer, next it'll be the neighbor's dog...what's the matter with Oshkosh...I moved here because I loved the intermingling of nature and the city...I've been here over 10 years...I'm starting to think differently...I'm very disheartened by this senseless act...
Hello Oshkosh Deer Lovers!!!! PLEASE dont miss this very important meeting this sunday feb 8 2009 to show your support for our deer. Meeting will be held at the J.P . Coughlin Center 625 E County rd Y Oshkosh bring your family and friends because the deer deserve to live out their lives like the rest of us! Deer Kills are cruel and unnessary we need to try non lethal ways and learn to live with our wild life not destroy it the long run will be well worth this investment!! hope to see you there!!! thanks from janet helstrom and the deer!!oxox
hello oshkosh excellent turnout sun feb 8 for our special save the deer meeting! lots of important city people there tv26 and tv5 were there please come also to the oshkosh city council save the deer meeting tommorow tues feb 10 at 6:00 4th floor city hall see you there thanks from janet and the deer!11
WAY TO GO OSHKOSH DEER LOVERS!! happy valentines day!! Let me see 16 hours of sharpshooters and they got 6 deer total! Someone said they were not very sharp I loved that!!! Thanks for all the tons of support from oshkosh on this very sad decision to kill all our deer.Dnr issued 40 tags and council said they wanted to thin the herd TRY ELIMINATE IT!!!! ALSO if this was such a hudge problem why 4 years and no deer crossing signs? Public safety should be 1st but no slaughtering our deer is on top of list for council. sad all the money they wasted and they couldnt even get 2 deer crossing signs put up.Guys dont forget to vote tues fev 17 and always remember those 6 who voted to kill our beautiful innocent deer!! Tony Palmari you will always have our votes your the best!!!And Oshkosh we will never ever give up this fight to SAVE OUR DEER!!!
WAY TO GO OSHKOSH DEER LOVERS!! happy valentines day!! Let me see 16 hours of sharpshooters and they got 6 deer total! Someone said they were not very sharp I loved that!!! Thanks for all the tons of support from oshkosh on this very sad decision to kill all our deer.Dnr issued 40 tags and council said they wanted to thin the herd TRY ELIMINATE IT!!!! ALSO if this was such a hudge problem why 4 years and no deer crossing signs? Public safety should be 1st but no slaughtering our deer is on top of list for council. sad all the money they wasted and they couldnt even get 2 deer crossing signs put up.Guys dont forget to vote tues fev 17 and always remember those 6 who voted to kill our beautiful innocent deer!! Tony Palmari you will always have our votes your the best!!!And Oshkosh we will never ever give up this fight to SAVE OUR DEER!!!
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