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Deer abound in Batavia, but solutions hard to find

By Howard B. Owens

Deer are causing damage in Batavia and residents say the problem is as bad as they can ever remember it, but that doesn't mean a solution will be easy to find.

DEC Biologist Art Kirsch led a two-hour meeting on the issue Wednesday night, but offered no clear answers and said it could take years for Batavia to thin its deer herd to a less destructive level.

City Manager Jason Molino agreed.

"We've got the right folks at the state level to help us," Molino said. "We've just got to get the right folks in the community to participate and try to come up with a solution. Unfortunately, the solution isn't a cookie-cutter solution and I don't think the time frame is either. I don't think what anyone can predict what type of obstacles we might receive in the process."

Several residents told of the problems they face, including Gus Galliford.

"We're concerned about the deer just ravaging our property," Galliford said. "They're coming in numbers we've never seen before. I built my house 25 years ago and lived in the neighborhood all that time, but after this past spring, they're just destroying the whole thing."

The deer have cost his family thousands and thousands of dollars, Galliford said.

Kirsch said an overpopulation of deer are a problem on at least three levels: ecological damage, car accidents and transmission of disease.

His best suggestions for now: fencing, repellents, and fertility control.

Molino suggested the city may need to set up a committee to study the issue and recommend a solution.

Reporting for story provided by The Batavian's news partner, WBTA AM/FM.

Ed Hartgrove

According to an article, from the University of Vermont Extension Department of Plant and Soil Science, found at http://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/articles/deerfences.html , "White-tailed deer can jump almost eight feet high, so effective upright fences against them should be this high."
So, what does this mean?
Well, in Stafford, it would appear that a deer could jump from James Pontillo's property, onto Tom Englerth's property (as the fence height on Pontillo's side is 6'). But, the same deer couldn't clear the fence from Englerth's side, as it is 8' high on that side.

Interesting!

Aug 20, 2015, 6:42pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

Actually Ed... I'll find the cornell article but that 8' height was from a standstill for an average deer.

Over at the Cornell Ag Gardens they needed 15' fences because if the are running ...they can easily clear 10 to 12'.

Aug 20, 2015, 7:50pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

I found a similar article.....but cant find the cornell article. This one is good though because it includes mitigating factors that influence deer/fence behavior. Definately not a simple issue by far.

Aug 20, 2015, 7:54pm Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

In reality, Kyle, I remember watching a video on youtube, showing one deer clearing a 14' fence, with a second one ( right behind it) NOT clearing it and plummeting to the ground. But, I couldn't find that video.
Besides, the 6-foot vs 8-foot limit in the article I found fit perfectly for my 'jab' at the Pontillo/Englerth controversy. That's why I used it.
:)

Aug 20, 2015, 8:06pm Permalink
Christopher Putnam

To elaborate. If an animal is destroying my property, and the "Officials" are going to meander and discuss options while more damage is done to my property, I would kill the animal using the safest possible method for the terrain and area. Back yard of a residential area, arrows. Backyard of a sub urban area, depending on the nature and location of neighbors, a quiet rifle.

Aug 21, 2015, 6:39am Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

Robert. We tried that Dove soap method, back when I was just a kid.
As the trees grew taller and taller, we slowly weaned them off the soap treatment.
To our dismay, we learned that the trees had grown so accustomed to the Dove that they retaliated.
Hence, the countryside is now teeming with 'weeping willows'.

Aug 21, 2015, 11:48am Permalink
Robert Tretter

Ed. Don't know why that happened to you but it works for multi million dollar fruit growers. They don't spray it on a small piece of Dove soap does the job.

Aug 21, 2015, 12:12pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

If you research that Robert, the smell in dove soap that we humans can't smell but the deer can is an odor similar to the pheremones in the urine of predators.

It's much easier to get wolf or coyote urine products from hunting stores as the dove doesn't last very long in the out of doors because of humidity and rain.

This site is not a joke but you can find useful versions of this stuff to use from here

http://thepeemart.com/

Aug 21, 2015, 12:39pm Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

Kyle. I went to Pee Mart's website. Interesting.
Their home page says, "This is not a cheap diluted version or a synthetic copy. All of our urine is 100% natural, full strength, with no water added!"
Sounds like a perfect job for Mike Rowe.
Got anything for repelling "annoying people"?

Aug 21, 2015, 2:22pm Permalink
Robert Tretter

Kyle. Sorry didn't need to research it I don't have a problem with them. The big fruit growers use it. Works fine for them. They put it on the young fruit trees. They have probably done the research. Just saying.

Aug 21, 2015, 2:35pm Permalink
Christopher Putnam

I like how people have become such sheep that when they encounter a problem like this they complain to the city or some official instead of solving the problem. "Oh there are these terrible scary deer destroying my property whatever shall i do?" Oh i know "Lets call the town board or whatever and make them handle the problem"
What really?
Sheeple.

Aug 21, 2015, 3:31pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

Hey Ed.... you asked, Got anything for repelling "annoying people"?

My sarcastic side had an immediate response.

(unzips) I might have something for repelling annoying people Ed.

Aug 21, 2015, 9:34pm Permalink
Robert Bombard

Anyone can go to the hardware store find a lawnmower muffler "a long skinny one" i have found one its 8"x2" drill out the center peace of metal and attach. Its 10x quieter than a bb gun. Just don't let Cuomo find out! Shoot and eat.....Yummy!

Aug 22, 2015, 6:10pm Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

Re: Comment #21
Gotta hand it to you, buddy. That's one of the funniest comments I've read, recently.
So, let me get this straight.
1) Purchase lawnmower muffler
2) Drill out the metal center (piece, I assume you meant)
3) Attach the muffler
4) Shoot

Just wondering. How big a lawnmower does it need to be (to kill a deer)? And, just what am I shooting at the deer? Exhaust gases?

I just don't get it, I guess! But then, my daddy always did say I was a little slow. :)

Aug 22, 2015, 7:30pm Permalink
david spaulding

Ed, I found your attempt at humor very amusing. was laughing at how you tied the two topics together until somebody came along with statistical proof that your joke was wrong.
Please don't be deterred as it is good to laugh, for some of us anyways.

Aug 22, 2015, 7:53pm Permalink
tom hunt

Bow and arrows is a bad solution for the City. A badly placed shot can cause the animal to run miles before it bleeds out and dies. I don't think we want dying deer running amok in the streets and backyards of Batavia.

Aug 23, 2015, 6:28am Permalink

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