Draft ordinance: Don't feed the deer

DALTON GARDENS - The Dalton Gardens City Council tonight is scheduled to discuss a draft ordinance that if passed would ban deer feeding in the city.

The purpose, according to a draft posted on the city's website, is to halt an increase in the population of the animal by eliminating feed and attractants.

The draft ordinance said deer pose a public safety threat because of vehicle-deer collisions. It also cites spread of disease and damage to landscaping and gardens.

"This chapter is intended to reduce these threats by restricting supplement and intentional feeding of deer, which results in unnatural concentrations of deer and can affect the normal movement of deer within the community," the draft said.

Mayor Dan Franklin declined to comment Wednesday. Deputy Mayor Steve Roberge couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

The meeting is scheduled to start at 6 tonight at City Hall.

"No person shall purposely or knowingly leave or store any refuse, garbage, food product, pet food, forage product or supplement, salt, seed or birdseed, fruit, grain in a manner that would constitute an attractant to any deer," according to the draft.

A citation of $100 is being considered for violators.

If someone violates the law three times in one year "a person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished by a fine of not more than $1,000," the draft said.

In December, the city released survey results from a community-wide survey about deer. The city sent out 832 surveys to households and received 401 completed surveys, demonstrating "tremendous interest in the deer issue in Dalton."

In response to the question if "anyone you know had a deer-vehicle collision," 246 respondents said no and 130 said yes.

Twenty-four percent, or 93 respondents, agreed that deer are a traffic hazard, while nearly 44 percent, or 168 respondents, had no opinion. Just more than 29 percent don't see them as a traffic hazard.

The survey showed that 5 percent of respondents admitted to feeding deer, while just more than 93 percent, or 359 respondents, said they don't.