International Falls council sends proposed deer-feeding ban back to committee to clarify enforcement and map

Councilors introduced a proposed ordinance that would prohibit feeding deer within a described area of International Falls but unanimously voted to return the draft to the Committee of the Whole for further work.

Councilors presented the ordinance as a response to repeated citizen concerns about rising deer numbers in core neighborhoods. The mayor said the city had explored other options, including in-town hunts, and worked with the Department of Natural Resources on allowable approaches; the city was told that certain removal actions require an ordinance on the books before the DNR or other parties can act.

Councilor Wagner moved to send the draft ordinance back to the Committee of the Whole so staff and the committee could “define the process for the ordinance” and determine who would enforce it — the police department or another city office. Wagner told colleagues that enforcement responsibility and some map language remain the “biggest hang up” on moving forward.

At the public comment period, resident Lois Lundeen of 2222 3rd Avenue East said the map as drafted does not cover the entire city and asked why a street could divide neighbors into different rules for feeding deer. Lundeen urged the council to return the proposal to committee so the public can review revisions and asked that the council consider the fairness of a partial-city approach.

Councilors said the selective boundary in the draft reflected community feedback from an earlier open house, where residents on the periphery rejected a citywide restriction while the core neighborhoods favored it. After discussion of map definitions and enforcement authority, councilors voted unanimously to send the ordinance back to the January Committee of the Whole meeting for further work.

The ordinance will not return for first reading until the Committee of the Whole reviews enforcement mechanisms, final map language and any recommended edits.