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WILDLIFE Ashland clamping down on deer feeding By John Darling for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By John Darling for the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 30, 2016 @ 2:53 pm By John Darling for the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 30, 2016 @ 2:53 pm » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> If you feed deer in Ashland and get reported, you may find city Code Enforcement Officer Kevin Flynn in your yard, likely giving you a ticket of up to $435. The city has posted 50 new signs warning just that — leaving no doubt they won’t sit by when it happens. Mayor John Stromberg last fall held listening sessions and heard citizen accounts of attacks by deer, with some residents pleading with the city to do something — culling the herd with guns or arrows, injecting birth control with darts or relocating them. But the state Department of Fish & Wildlife is in charge of deer, said city Administrator Dave Kanner, and “they’ve told us over and over that the most important thing we can do is to get people to stop feeding them.” “The city is severely constrained in its ability to address the (deer population) other than by educating the community,” said city spokeswoman Ann Seltzer. In 2012, the city passed an ordinance prohibiting feeding of deer, raccoons, wild turkeys and other wildlife. Now the city wants to educate people that they have no right to habituate wild animals to feeding by humans. “If we get reports about feeding, we will send the code enforcement officer out,” said Kanner. “When deer get fed, they are acclimated to being around people. It gives deer the idea that interacting with the human population is the way to get fed. “We encountered one couple who went to the (Ashland Food) Co-op every day, bought apples, cut them up and put them on a plate in their front yard. They think it’s cute to have deer in their yard, but it has an impact on the entire neighborhood. The deer aren’t going to stay on their property.” A thread on the Ashland Daily Tidings Facebook page drew many comments about the topic. “I don't know that anything about the deer in Ashland qualifies them as wild animals," said Jamila Elliott. "If people aren't hand-feeding them, they're just planting them yards full of food, not exactly the natural order of things.” Phyllis Leilani Halstead posted, “When I lived in Jacksonville, people used to feed the deer. The deer developed some type of sickness from it. Jacksonville requested no one feed deer ... We have plenty of deer in our neighborhood of Luna Vista. They have plenty to eat. I don't feed deer.” Kirtsten Bakke posted, “I was recently in Colorado Springs, where a friend I was staying with was feeding local deer carrots. I didn't think anything of it until I drove up to her house one day and five deer were on the lawn, and I didn't have any carrots. I couldn't get to the front door soon enough and was nearly attacked by them because they were expecting food. Fines make sense to me.” Robin Rose posted, “There are plenty of meat-eaters in Ashland. Harvest and feed the needy, I say.” Louisa Reade posted, “Bring in the coyotes!” Ashland police Chief Tighe O’Meara said they haven’t cited anyone yet, but they will if there’s probable cause, including witnesses or an interview with a potential violator. However, he added, growing a garden of yummy veggies is not considered feeding, “or I would have been in violation for my flowers.” The city website warns: “No matter how cute and seemingly domesticated, these are wild creatures. Their behaviors are unpredictable. Don’t feed wildlife! Feeding can attract wild animals and their predators. It also causes wild animals to lose their fear of humans.” The ordinance, 9.08.280, is posted on the city website: "A person who knowingly places, deposits, distributes, stores or scatters food, garbage or any other attractant so as to knowingly constitute a lure, attraction or enticement for deer, raccoon or potentially habituated wildlife may be issued a written notification by an officer requiring the person to remove the food, garbage or other attractant within two days of notification. "A person who receives a written notification ... shall remove the food, garbage or other attractant as directed." "Potentially habituated wildlife" includes bears, cougars, coyotes and wolves, the post noted. John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By John Darling for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By John Darling for the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 30, 2016 @ 2:53 pm » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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