Medical Lake forms deer committee

The deer population has been an issue in the city of Medical Lake for the last few years. The city attempted to address the matter when staff introduced an ordinance that would prohibit residents from feeding deer within city limits. At its Feb. 18, 2014 meeting, the City Council turned down the ordinance by a 3-2 vote.

Now the city is going to residents for their input and help in the deer matter.

Medical Lake is seeking volunteers for the Citizens Deer Advisory Committee. The committee's first meeting will be Oct. 28, at City Hall, 124 S. Lefevre St., at 7 p.m.

According to City Administrator Doug Ross, the purpose of the committee is to come together and look at methods on how to mitigate the increasing deer population within city limits. Ross hopes the committee will have members with different viewpoints regarding the deer issue.

"I get phone calls from people who are on both sides of the issue," Ross said. "Some people call and say that they like the deer while others say they don't. If someone calls about the deer, I pass along information about the committee."

Ross explained that the committee was a recommendation from the Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW), who will have a representative help facilitate the meeting and provide information for residents.

Earlier this year, the city contacted DFW regarding the deer issue. Candace Bennett, a wildlife conflict specialist with the department, came out and surveyed the deer population in Medical Lake to see if it was beyond the normal urban population.

During her assessment, she noticed that deer were accustomed to humans and less wary than deer found in the wild. She also noticed that deer were usually around open areas on the outer edges of the city.

"This is normal for a city like Medical Lake since there is a lot of suitable habitat around the area," Bennett said.

Bennett explained that a full survey of the deer population could take several years. The committee was one of her recommendations to the city.

"Doing the survey wasn't enough and the deer advisory group was the idea that seemed to work best," Bennett said.

Washington towns like Republic and Colville created committees to help mitigate their deer population.

Ross said that any recommendations the committee makes regarding the deer issue will be forwarded to the City Council.

Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].