“This is necessary. It’s not something we do with any pleasure at all.”
City manager Ryan Cummings says it is time to reduce the deer population in Saugatuck.
“For the health of the community as well as the gardens and landscaping that have been victims of the deer.”
The city is budgeting 30 thousand dollars to hire Bergs Animal and Bug Control to cull the herd this winter. 495 dollars per deer.
“495 dollars per deer. That would allow us to cull up to 60 deer.”
During a city council discussion, it was agreed to target the deer herd on Oval Beach, harvesting does the priority.
“It’s more efficient in terms of controlling the herd to focus on does.” Says mayor pro temp Joe Clark.
“If the doe is pregnant does that count as two?” Wonders council member Chris Peterson.
“I can’t see them charging us a thousand dollars for a deer that is pregnant.”
Council member Gregory Muncey says residents who feed deer are not helping solve the problem.
“We need to stop making it comfortable for them to be here.”
Churches and food banks will help distribute the deer meat. This is the first time Saugatuck is culling the deer herd. Councilman Scott Dean does not think it will be the last.
“I think we all know it’s not going to be one and done. This is very much like managing an invasive species.”
