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Resident urges study of nonlethal deer control after large backyard herd
Summary
Robert "Bob" Labelle told the Sylvania City Council he counted about 29 deer on his 3-acre property and asked the city to study nonlethal population-control options such as sterilization; council agreed to ask administration to research options and schedule a committee meeting.
Robert “Bob” Labelle, who identified himself as a Sylvania resident at 5101 Haroon Road, told the council he has counted roughly 29 deer on his three-acre property and described rapid increases in fawn counts over the past two years. He said overbrowsing has left his landscape depleted and raised concerns about herd health and vehicle collisions.
“I counted 29 deer, a herd in my, quote, backyard last year,” Labelle said, and he described a sterilization program used by another Ohio community as a nonlethal option. He asked the council not to decide tonight but to refer the matter to city administration and a committee for further study. Acting Mayor Mary Westfall said staff would check whether administration has received similar requests and that a committee meeting would be scheduled to present options.
Why it matters: Sylvania residents raised safety and ecological concerns tied to deer density; council’s next step—research and a committee discussion—could lead to recommendations that affect wildlife management rules or requests to state agencies. The council did not adopt a policy or vote on a control program at the meeting.
Next steps: Westfall said administration will look into past requests and options and the council will schedule a committee meeting to review staff findings and potential nonlethal measures.
