Dalton's deer dilemma

DALTON GARDENS - Daphne Taylor is well aware that Dalton Gardens has a resident deer population.

Her house is nestled against Canfield Mountain, where deer and other North Idaho woodland creatures are frequent guests.

"They live in our yard," she said. "They live on our street ... I love them, I feel like we're fortunate to have them in our community."

But are the deer a problem?

"We're deer advocates," Taylor said. "I don't think there is a deer problem. That's just me."

Whether the deer are a problem and how to manage the population was discussed at Thursday evening's Dalton Gardens City Council meeting, where about 35 people shared their thoughts on the deer situation.

"Some people think there's no problem, some people think there is a problem," said Steve Roberge, Dalton Gardens deputy mayor and council president. "I wouldn't say there is or isn't a problem at this point. It depends on where you live and your perception."

Dalton's deer dilemma has been in discussion for several years; last year, a no-feed ordinance was passed and a trap-and-transfer trial program was in place. Taylor said she and other residents have been conducting research and working on making connections with wildlife experts at the state level to possibly implement other methods of deer population management, such as administering contraceptives to the females to stymie the birth rate and, in turn, lower the overall numbers.

"Trapping is never going to work," she said. "Not to mention it's not humane."

Roberge said while the council did approve putting out a request for proposal to acquire a skilled trapper, council members have yet to vote on whether the trap-and-transfer method will continue.

"We did make a motion for a request for proposal to see if anyone is interested in doing it, because it takes a skilled person to do that," he said.

He said he and the council are open to all suggestions and ideas presented by community members and that Thursday's meeting was a good one. The vote regarding deer management will be taking place in the near future.

"We're still working on it," he said. "We haven't made a decision yet."

The deer are notorious for helping themselves to Dalton residents' flower beds, berry patches and vegetable gardens, among other behaviors that have been problematic for some residents.

"Do they frustrate me some? Sure," Taylor said. "Do I get more joy than frustration? Yes."

She said she and her husband would be willing to serve on a deer population management committee to study how other communities handle their deer problems and what humane, positive solutions can be found. She said a majority of the people at the meeting were also deer advocates, but "there were a few people, certainly, who were unhappy."

"It's like building your house on the floodplain and then getting annoyed when you have water in your basement," she said. "I feel like (the deer) were here first. This is what we signed up for."

Taylor said peacefully solving the deer dilemma is a chance for the Dalton community to "actually come together and be neighbors and friends again."

"We have an opportunity to bring this community together," she said.