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Resident raises deer-damage complaint; Chadron police outline management plan
Summary
A resident told the council that deer are severely damaging his yard; Chadron’s police chief said the department is coordinating with Nebraska Game and Parks to manage the herd but cited a freezer outage that delays processing for chronic-wasting-disease tests until early December.
Nelson Stevens of 402 West 8th Street told the council the town herd has caused repeated damage to his recently rehabilitated yard and asked what legal deterrents and city actions are available.
Stevens said the deer had repeatedly damaged plantings and that home remedies tried to date were ineffective. "It's no one's fault, but we just would like some insight and some support if we could get it," he told the council during the public-comment period.
Police Chief Rick Hickstein responded that the department has a plan coordinated with Nebraska Game and Parks to manage the herd and will conduct removals as part of an ongoing program. Hickstein said the department's freezer used to store deer pending CWD (chronic wasting disease) testing was broken and is not expected to be back in service until early December, which has delayed some removals. He offered to meet with Stevens, connect him with biologists and discuss fencing options the city is pursuing.
Why it matters: Residents said deer are affecting private property and quality of life; the police explanation underscores the agency constraints around safety and CWD testing that shape the timing of removal operations.
What the city said it will do: The police chief offered to meet with the resident, facilitate on-site visits by a wildlife biologist and coordinate with Game and Parks on removal and fencing measures once equipment and scheduling permit.
Next steps: The chief encouraged residents to contact the police department for more information; he and staff will follow up with the resident and provide biologist consultation as available.
