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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-2023 IC Deer Management Annual Report 2022 - 202 3 CITY OF IOWA CITY DEER MANAGEMENT ANNUAL REPORT The Iowa City City Council adopted a Deer Management Plan in 2019. This plan was developed in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and local public input and was approved through the Iowa Natural Resource Commission. The Plan includes one year of professional sharpshooting, four years of urban bow hunts, and ongoing public education. To learn more please visit www.icgov.org/deerprogram. CONTENTS • Background • Deer Collisions + Complaints • Non-Lethal Deer Management • Depredation & Urban Bow Hunt Results • DNR Aerial Survey Results (Attached) • Analysis & Looking Ahead 2 BACKGROUND Iowa City’s Deer Management Plan was formed in response to resident concerns about deer in urban and suburban areas. A deer count survey conducted in 2018 revealed the urban deer population had tripled since the City ceased its deer management program in 2010. After coordinating with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and soliciting public input, the City Council adopted a Deer Management Plan in 2019. This plan was submitted to the Iowa Natural Resource Commission (NRC) and included one year of professional sharpshooting, four years of urban bow hunts, and ongoing public education. A full timeline and history of the City’s deer management response is available at www.icgov.org/deerprogram. Public Input In 2018, a deer committee was formed of both City staff and community members. On August 14, 2018, approximately 60 community members attended a public input meeting held to discuss deer population management. Staff offered additional opportunities for providing input for those unable to attend the public forum. In August 2020, City staff met with members of the Iowa City Deer Friends to receive feedback and incorporate their input into the rules for the 2020-2021 urban bow hunt. Members of the public also addressed the City Council during four City Council meetings at which the urban bow hunt rules and deer feeding ordinance were on the agendas. In July 2022, the City held a Deer Management Listening Session. City staff, DNR staff, the media, and seven members of the public were in attendance. City staff provided an overview of the history and current deer management strategies and then opened the floor for public comment and questions, a summary of which is provided below: • Multiple residents from Manville Heights neighborhood expressed concerns about the growing deer population and the resulting challenges, including reports of erratic driving from people avoiding deer in the road, damage to landscaping and gardens, deer sleeping near housing structures, and concerns about the spread of ticks and Lyme Disease. • Comments in opposition to the bow hunt in general were shared, including one participant against any deer culling efforts and another expressing preference for sharpshooting over bow hunting. • Concerns were shared that the first two years of bow hunt have produced inadequate results and low interest from hunters and property owners. • A comment encouraged the City to utilize wildlife crossings (vegetated bridges) where deer/vehicle accidents are most prevalent. • Comment thanking the City for promotion of non-lethal strategies and suggesting additional. • Comment from near east-side resident (Green Mountain) that deer population is becoming a challenge and that some owners in the neighborhood have single-acre+ lots that could be used for hunting. • Comment from far east side (Scott to Taft) that deer population is not a significant challenge, but the educational/informational material has been helpful. 3 Additionally, the DNR staff shared comments about the success of urban bow hunts in other Iowa communities and that it takes time to grow awareness, trust, and interest in the hunt. City staff encouraged participants to promote opportunities for both property owners and hunters to contact the City if they are interested in being involved in the hunt. Additionally, staff shared that planning for a new deer management plan (to replace the current 2020 – 2025 plan), will begin mid-2023 with additional input opportunities offered during that process. Members of the public are invited to provide ongoing input on the City’s deer management activities by contacting City staff or City Council members. Typically, this correspondence occurs when a property owner experiences a deer-related issue and wishes to share suggestions for managing the deer population. The City will report annually to City Council on deer management and population estimates for the remainder of the long-term deer management plan. Residents are invited to provide comments during this time or may address councilors during the public comment period at any regular City Council meeting. State Collaboration The City maintains close collaboration with staff from the DNR regarding implementation of the Long-Term Deer Management Plan. The City has sought input from DNR staff before and after the last two urban bow hunts and have incorporated many of their suggestions. In preparation for the 2022-2023 urban bow hunt season, City staff again sought input from the DNR to discuss strategies for improving the effectiveness of the bow hunt program. City and DNR staff met in Iowa City in March 2022 to discuss challenges and opportunities for the hunt. Following this meeting, City and DNR staff planned to conduct joint data analysis to identify top areas of concern where the City could explore targeting specific property owners to participate in deer culling activities. Additionally, the City was provided contact information of urban bow hunt coordinators from Polk County, Pleasant Hill, and Des Moines to learn more about other cities’ successes and challenges. Staff followed up with these contacts in July 2022. Below is a summary of feedback collected from each of these entities who are in varying states of longevity and success in their programs: • Lack of public land or recruited private land to offer hunters is a deterrent to hunter participation. Suggested coordinating with interested property owners in target areas to connect them with approved hunters. • Continue offering buck incentive program and longer season incentives. • Demonstrate long-term commitment to bow hunt. • Promote hunt opportunity through local outdoorsmen and sportsmen groups. • No entity had found a non-lethal method that was effective enough to manage population. • Educate the public on hunter motives and training and safety and efficacy data from longstanding urban bow hunts around the state. • Maintenance of density level is key. Deer will re-populate exponentially if left unchecked. Social tolerance can disappear rapidly after rutting season, at which point a quick solution is not possible. 4 Both City and DNR staff recognize that shifting social and political comfort levels with the program in Iowa City is a work in progress. Staff intend to continue refining the urban bow hunt program in collaboration with the DNR and NRC. However, the City may need to explore sharpshooting in targeted areas to help manage growing deer levels while the Urban Bow Hunt program continues to be improved and gain traction as a more reliable deer management tool. DEER COLLISIONS & COMPLAINTS Vehicle & Deer Collisions Between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022, the Iowa City Police Department received 28 calls for service involving vehicular collisions with deer, with the associated total estimated damage costs totaling $101,500. All deer/vehicle accidents in result in a call-for-service to police (minor collisions may be dealt with without police involvement). An interactive map showing locations of vehicle-deer collisions over the years is available at www.icgov.org/deerprogram. 2021 Vehicle-Deer Collisions (Iowa City Police Department) Date Location of Deer Collision Total Estimated Damage 1/20/2022 ASHWOOD DR AND ROCHESTER AVE $2,000 2/18/2022 1200 N. DUBUQUE ST $2,000 2/21/2022 CAMP CARDINAL BLVD/KENNEDY PKWY $4,000 2/22/2022 MORMON TREK BLVD $1,000 3/30/2022 IA 1 N $1,500 4/1/2022 US 218 SB @93 $5,000 4/9/2022 MELROSE AVE $2,000 4/14/2022 IA 1 N $5,000 5/5/2022 OLD HIGHWAY 218 SIGNED ROUTE $2,000 5/22/2022 218NB 94MM $10,000 5/26/2022 IA 1 N $3,000 5/31/2022 MORMON TREK BLVD $2,000 6/1/2022 US 218 N 92MM $2,500 7/8/2022 1801 SOUTH RIVERSIDE DR $2,000 7/9/2022 218/93SB $3,000 7/9/2022 I 80 W NEAR 244 MM $2,000 7/17/2022 US 218 S $7,000 5 7/26/2022 HWY1/SUNSET $3,000 7/27/2022 US 218 N 93MM $1,500 8/30/2022 MELROSE AVE AND MCBRIDE RD $5,000 11/12/2022 218 N/92 $500 11/12/2022 601 HWY 6 W $1,000 11/13/2022 US 218 S n/a 11/29/2022 3590 HIGHWAY 1 S.W. $5,000 12/2/2022 NORTH RIVERSIDE DR $9,500 12/15/2022 HAWKINS DR AND ROCKY SHORE DR AND US 6 W $15,000 12/19/2022 COURT ST $3,000 12/24/2022 US 218 S $2,000 2022 Deer-Related Calls and Complaints The City received 21 e-mailed comments and complaints related to deer in 2022 (eight more complaints than 2021 and 15 more than 2020), several phone calls (which are not tracked as closely), and eight deer-related complaints submitted through ICgovXpress, the platform for reporting concerns to the City. 51 54 58 57 14 36 28 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Number of Deer-Vehicle Collisions in Iowa City 6 Three of the 18 e-mails received were either in opposition to lethal deer management or encouraging more promotion of non-lethal strategies. One e-mail was from a hunter perspective sharing reasons for hesitance to join Iowa City’s bow hunt program. 17 e-mails were from residents complaining about population levels, landscaping and garden damage, and expressing that the City’s current deer management efforts are not working. Notably, in 2022 several of the complaints mentioned observing groups of deer as large as 14- 17 in their yards. Multiple complainants also shared longitudinal perspective from having resided in the same house for decades (one as long as 50 years), sharing that the problem has been worsening and/or that 2022 was the worst year for deer-related issues. In addition to concerns from the public, the City Parks Division has reported that deer have become a large issue in terms of tree health and damage to public trees caused by deer is routinely observed throughout the City. NON-LETHAL DEER MANAGEMENT Iowa City’s Long-Term Deer Management Plan includes a series of activities for the City to provide, consider, or develop. Non-lethal management actions taken to date include: • Publishing of a comprehensive set of deer management related webpages at www.icgov.org/deerprogram. Content includes background information, FAQs, non-lethal management tips, links to resources, a map of deer-vehicle collisions, and other content referenced in the Long-Term Deer Management Plan. • Passing an ordinance which prohibits the feeding of deer and issued communications notifying residents. • Issuing utility-bill inserts, news releases, and social media posts, advising residents on how to minimize deer damage using non-lethal methods. Currently, there are four Deer Crossing signs installed within Iowa City limits. These are located at Dubuque Street, north of Kimball Avenue; Dubuque Street, south of the I-80 bridge; Rochester Avenue, east of First Avenue; and Rochester Avenue, west of Scott Boulevard. In effort to deter deer from browsing on City-maintained plantings, the City has adopted a practicing of planting allium species in place of more deer-friendly vegetation, such as hostas. Map of Known Complaint Locations 7 DEER DEPREDATION RESULTS The Long-Term Deer Management Plan adopted by City Council and submitted to the Iowa NRC included one year of professional sharpshooting and a bow hunt in years 2020 – 2024. Deer Harvest Summary by Year Year Hunters Approved Tags Purchased Buck Incentive Earned Deer Harvested 2019 – 2020 Sharpshooting n/a n/a n/a 500 2020 – 2021 Urban Bow Hunt 5 15 0 3 2021-2022 Urban Bow Hunt 5 15 1 4 2022 – 2023 Urban Bow Hunt 12 46 6 29 2019 – 2020 Professional Sharpshooting The City contracted with White Buffalo Inc., a wildlife management organization, to conduct the 2019-2020 professional sharpshooting deer cull. White Buffalo Inc. provided a full report of the cull results in March 2020. Approximately 500 deer were harvested through the sharpshoot. The meat from the deer (estimated to be approximately 30,000 pounds) was tested for safety by the Iowa DNR and then processed and donated to local food banks. 2020 – 2021 Urban Bow Hunt A total of 14 tags were purchased between the five approved hunters. Of those tags, three deer were harvested during the 2020-2021 urban bow hunt. All the deer were harvested on private property per the hunt rules. 2021 – 2022 Urban Bow Hunt A total of 15 tags were purchased between the five approved hunters. Of those tags, four deer were harvested on private property per the hunt rules and one buck incentive was earned. Prior to the 2021 – 2022 season, the City implemented several changes to the program as recommended by the DNR staff, including: lengthening the application period, opening the hunt season earlier, and increasing the quota from 75 deer to 200 deer. 2022 – 2023 Urban Bow Hunt The application period, quota, and season duration changes implemented in the 2021-2022 bow hunt were maintained. Additionally, following recommendations from DNR staff, other communities, and public input, the City introduced a few new outreach efforts to the 2022-2023 Urban Bow Hunt: • Private property owners were asked to submit their interest and willingness to provide land for hunters, which the City would then help connect to approved hunters and cooperative property owners. • The City reached out to key property owners in target areas with the highest deer densities to consider participating. 8 • The City worked with a local outfitter to promote the hunt opportunity with local hunting, outdoorsmen, and sportsmen groups. As a result of these changes, two private properties with large natural areas participated in the bow hunt, which helped more hunters participate and resulted in a significant increase in the number of deer harvested. Several other property owners expressed interest in participating in the future, and a few who expressed interest were deemed ineligible due to not meeting the 150’ separation requirement. The City’s 2022- 2023 bow hunt season began on September 17, 2022 and ended on January 10, 2023. The City of Iowa City accepted applications for bow hunters until October 20, 2022. Thirteen hunters applied and twelve were accepted for the hunt. All approved hunters held a valid DNR hunting License, completed the required qualifications at Fin & Feather, and submitted the appropriate paperwork with the City regarding their hunt locations. A total of 46 tags were purchased between the 12 approved hunters. Of those tags, 29 deer were harvested during the 2021-2022 bow hunt. All the deer were harvested on private property per the hunt rules. There was one complaint from a hunter about a stand being located too close to a sidewalk, which was discovered to be in compliance when investigated. DNR # Doe Button Buck Buck Total Harvest 1269596 0 866190879 3 2 5 712186386 1 1 4465621 3 1 4 1738095 3 3 2672145-455268 3 3 1000522239 1 1 586414070 3 3 2617694 8 8 1000277157 1 1 Total harvested: 26 2 1 29 No reporting violations occurred. Six buck incentive tags were earned, which means those five hunters will be eligible for a buck tag for the 2023-2023 urban bow hunt season. The voluntary participation of several large property owners resulted in a significant increase the number of deer harvested over prior years. However, it is important not to depend too heavily on this factor as property participation is entirely voluntary and could change from year to year. 9 AERIAL DEER SURVEY & DENSITY ESTIMATES On February 22, 2023, the Iowa DNR conducted an aerial deer survey in Iowa City and observed 382 deer in all zones. In previous years, deer density estimates were provided by zone; however, density estimates were not included this year as DNR staff advised that the best data is trend in deer observed numbers over a long period of time. The DNR also advises that aerial surveys provide a snapshot of levels but that a variety of factors influence the day-to-day movement of deer throughout the area. Variance in numbers from aerial surveys year to year can be due to variables including weather, food availability, days of snow cover, etc. Iowa City Aerial Surveys and Deer Observed Zone Acres Sq Miles 1997 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2007 2008 2021 2022 2023 A 1,398 2.18 37 60 74 64 29 76 71 170 80 15 180 72 B 669 1.05 69 154 81 33 30 30 19 5 2 3 20 9 C 808 1.26 78 90 99 39 36 60 43 46 33 30 87 125 D 1,489 2.33 65 127 140 38 25 100 88 65 36 103 130 E 958 1.50 0 0 7 12 0 12 9 41 19 21 79 49 F 1,594 2.49 11 15 48 42 15 74 65 80 32 19 66 30 G 993 1.55 3 0 4 0 0 0 5 43 35 13 4 6 H 1,187 1.85 6 31 48 24 23 42 6 53 26 20 24 58 I 1,239 1.94 49 79 197 99 43 169 109 101 39 15 25 33 Total 318 556 698 351 201 563 415 604 302 239 615 382 Note: Professional sharpshooting to manage deer occurred in 2000 – 2009 and ceased in 2010. One year of professional sharpshooting was again completed in 2020 and culled approximately 500 deer. 318 556 698 351 201 563 415 604 302 239 615 382 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 1997 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2007 2008 2021 2022 2023 To t a l # D e e r O b s e r v e d Iowa City Aerial Survey: Deer Observed by Year (all zones) 10 Iowa City Aerial Survey Zone Map (with number of deer observed added in RED) 33 6 72 125 58 9 30 49 11 ANALYSIS & LOOKING AHEAD Looking holistically at the variety of datasets collected by the City (including deer-vehicle collisions, location of public complaints, and the aerial deer survey), top areas of concern for deer population levels include the belt stretching from Manville Heights east through Morningside-Glendale and Washington Hills and north around Hickory Hill Park and the Bluffwood/Shimek neighborhoods. While recruiting property owners for the 2022-2023 bow hunt, the City mapped potential bow hunting areas in Iowa City which met the 150’ separation requirements. Fortunately, the participation of two large property owners in the northeast region of Iowa City, where population levels are estimated to be the highest, resulted in a higher deer harvest count in the 2022-2023 bow hunt. However, it is important to remember that property owner participation is voluntary and not guaranteed from year to year. Should one of these properties change use, ownership or otherwise decline to participate in future bow hunts, it is unlikely the City would see similar harvest results. As such, the lack of eligible hunting land in Iowa City remains a top concern about the City’s ability to effectively manage deer population levels moving forward. The current Long-Term Deer Management Plan concludes with a final 2023-2024 urban bow hunt. Preparation for the next urban bow hunt and planning for a new deer management plan will begin in Summer 2023.