Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wildlife Management Deer topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Peachtree Corners staff outlines data plan to quantify deer population; wildlife survey, DNR input scheduled
Summary
City staff reported residents completed a deer impact survey and said a wildlife biologist will run a game-camera population study; results will be shared with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to determine management options.
City staff told the Peachtree Corners City Council they have collected resident reports on deer impacts and have contracted a wildlife biologist to run a camera-based population survey to provide the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) with the evidence it needs to recommend management options.
"Local governments are in this interesting position where we get the calls, but we do not have the authority to implement game management or wildlife management," said Mister Rhodes, who briefed the council on staff actions. Rhodes said the city is coordinating closely with DNR and will provide data so the state agency can make evidence-based recommendations.
Staff reported 797 residents or property owners have completed the city’s deer impact survey. The city secured wildlife biologist Dr. Curtis Mosley to conduct a game-camera survey over roughly 2,000 acres using one camera per 100-acre grid cell; cameras will run for 21 days. Rhodes said Dr. Mosley expects to deliver a written report between Dec. 5 and Dec. 12, after which staff will forward the results to DNR.
Rhodes emphasized that deer are primarily on private property and that any state-recommended options would be choices for property owners. The city will assist property owners as appropriate if DNR recommends measures that require local facilitation. City staff said they will keep residents informed of survey results and next steps.
Council members asked about the timing relative to the fall hunting season; staff said routine hunting on private property continues but a tailored management recommendation to change population dynamics will wait on DNR’s analysis and the new survey data.
The briefing reflected ongoing resident concern and a multi-step process: (1) collect resident impact reports (survey responses), (2) run the wildlife-biologist camera survey, (3) provide the population and herd-characteristic analysis to DNR, and (4) consider property-owner options once DNR issues recommendations.
