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Peachtree Corners council authorizes USDA Wildlife Services agreement to tackle deer overpopulation
Summary
Council approved a one‑year cooperative agreement (renewable) with USDA Wildlife Services, not to exceed $25,000 per year, to conduct wildlife management on private properties with owner consent after residents’ survey estimated 193 deer per square mile versus a recommended ~25.
Peachtree Corners council authorized the city manager to execute a cooperative services agreement with USDA Wildlife Services to manage an excessive deer population the city says is causing property damage, ecological impacts and vehicle collisions.
City Attorney (Speaker 4) summarized the proposed agreement as a 12‑month, renewable contract with a not‑to‑exceed amount of $25,000 per year to cover a wildlife biologist, three technicians and required equipment. "It's really a turnkey program where they will bring all the necessary equipment to implement a wildlife management program on private properties with the written consent of those property owners," Speaker 4 said.
Staff cited the survey and population estimate used to inform the proposal: "Those numbers were a 193 deer per square mile when we discussed this at the retreat, but the recommended level is right around 25 deer per square miles," Speaker 4 said, summarizing the wildlife biologist's findings. Staff also described a resident‑led response (about 800 respondents to an impact survey), game‑camera deployments on more than 20 properties across roughly 2,000 acres, and a recommendation from wildlife biologist Dr. Moseley to adopt a year‑to‑year deer management plan tied to measurable benchmarks.
Councilman Wright (Speaker 8) asked whether neighboring municipalities or the state are pursuing similar programs and whether a metro‑wide approach is under discussion; staff said Peachtree Corners is an early adopter locally and noted Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) could facilitate managed hunts and coordinate conditions with property owners, while stressing that DNR regulates hunting.
The council moved, seconded and approved authorization for the city manager to execute the USDA agreement by voice vote; no opposition was recorded in the transcript. Staff said the wildlife biologist will finalize the survey report and brief the council at the next work session in December.
Next steps: staff will coordinate with property owners interested in participating, publish the final survey, and report progress to council during the management period.
