Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wildlife Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
North Mankato council authorizes deer removal in partnership with USDA-APHIS
Summary
The council unanimously adopted Res. No. 81-25 authorizing removal of up to 20 deer in partnership with USDA-APHIS; staff cited prior removals, collision reports and plans to process animals at Fort Snelling for distribution to people in need.
The North Mankato City Council on Sept. 2 adopted Res. No. 81-25 authorizing deer removal in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS), city officials said.
City Planner Lassonde reported the city has worked with USDA-APHIS since the adoption of the Deer Management Plan and Policy in 2024 and that 15 deer were removed within city limits under that effort. Lassonde told the council staff will continue to monitor deer-vehicle collisions, resident sightings and damage to vegetation; since the prior removals there have been seven reported deer-vehicle collisions in the city. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has indicated it would approve removal of up to 20 deer, Lassonde said.
According to Lassonde, removals occur at two locations—one in upper North Mankato and one in lower North Mankato—and animals are taken to Fort Snelling for processing and testing. The processed meat is then distributed to people in need, Lassonde said. Mayor Carlson and council members voted to adopt the resolution without opposition.
Why it matters: Council and staff framed the program as a management measure tied to public safety (reported collisions), nuisance reduction (sightings and vegetation damage) and a food-recovery component (distribution of processed meat). The DNR approval threshold (up to 20 deer) and the city’s prior work with USDA-APHIS were cited as grounds for moving ahead.
Council action and next steps: Council adopted Res. No. 81-25 on a unanimous vote (Whitlock, Steiner, Oachs, Peterson, Carlson aye). Staff will continue to monitor collisions, sightings and damage and implement the removal plan at the two identified locations. The resolution does not specify a schedule beyond continued monitoring and coordination with state and federal partners.
Separately, during public comments a resident apologized to Community Development Director Fischer for a prior mistaken assertion that a data center was planned; that item was unrelated to the deer resolution.
