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State wildlife division outlines urban deer program, warns relocation is no longer an option because of CWD
Summary
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources advised Copperton officials that its urban deer program requires a no‑feeding ordinance and liability coverage; trap‑and‑relocate has been discontinued because of chronic wasting disease, leaving lethal removal as the primary management tool for enrolled communities.
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) staff briefed the Town of Copperton council on the division’s mule deer population work and the state urban deer program on May 21, outlining program requirements, population goals and public‑health precautions related to chronic wasting disease (CWD).
Jason Robinson, a DWR wildlife biologist, said the larger mule‑deer management unit that includes Copperton carries a population objective of 8,800 deer; current DWR estimates place the unit at about 7,680 deer. Robinson said drought and a heavy winter contributed to the lower population estimate.
Rod Nielsen, the division’s urban deer biologist for the Central Region, explained eligibility and requirements for the DWR urban deer program. He said communities that wish to enroll…
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