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Resident urges action on urban deer; council to invite Division of Wildlife to explain options
Summary
A resident raised recurring urban-deer problems in Copperton, asking whether the town could qualify for the Division of Wildlife Resources program; staff said Copperton does not meet program criteria and offered alternatives. Council agreed to invite DWR to the next meeting to explain options and liabilities.
During the public-comment portion of the April meeting, resident Eric Shawstead described ongoing problems with deer in Copperton and asked whether the town could participate in the Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) urban-deer program.
Staff replied they had contacted DWR and were told Copperton does not currently meet qualification criteria for the state program. Meeting discussion cited examples that DWR lists high thresholds — including a $1,000,000 bond and population or resident-count requirements — and noted that the town could instead consider alternatives such as motion-activated sprinklers, hiring a licensed contractor to manage deer, or working with DWR on trapping and humane euthanasia with DWR oversight; salvaged meat could be donated under some scenarios.
Residents expressed mixed views about lethal control. Council members said they would check insurance and bonding implications and invited DWR to a future meeting to explain program criteria and community options.
The council also asked staff to follow up on faded stop signs noted by the speaker and to check on replacements before the next meeting.
