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Residents press Copperton council on deer damage; town to consider anti-feeding ordinance and management options
Summary
Resident Wyatt Jostett described repeated deer damage to landscaping and asked whether Copperton restricts feeding wildlife; council discussed state vs. local authority, possible ordinance language, and a rough local estimate of about $100,000 to address roughly 100 deer via contracted management.
A Copperton resident told the council deer are regularly in neighborhood yards and causing property damage, and he urged action.
Wyatt Jostett, who identified himself as a community member, told the council he had replanted landscaping that was ‘‘mashed in 24 hours’’ and asked whether Copperton has an ordinance forbidding feeding of urban wildlife. Council members and staff discussed whether feeding prohibitions fall under local animal-control authority or state wildlife jurisdiction and whether a local ordinance could reference state law.
Council members said Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) guidance and prior town experiences suggest management options include contracting for capture and removal, contracted lethal control with required testing and butchering if carcasses are donated, exclusion measures, or ordinances prohibiting intentional feeding. One council member said a back-of-the-envelope estimate to address roughly 100 deer (capture/management) would be ‘‘about $100,000,’’ and the town discussed funding and logistics; no funding decision was made.
Council agreed to place a discussion of feeding restrictions and deer management on an upcoming agenda and asked staff to explore ordinance language and cost estimates.
What’s next: The council will add the feeding/management topic to the next agenda so staff can research ordinance language, potential contractors and funding options.
