Marin Co. community considers sterilization of deer

BELVEDERE, Calif. (KTVU) - Belvedere hosted a public forum Wednesday evening, to discuss the abundance of deer in the community, and whether the herd should be trimmed.

"There have been deer that attacked dogs, all kinds of stories," resident Rich Joseph told KTVU, outside the meeting.

"I was out walking in the middle of the day, and there were five or six bucks, just running down the road!"

The deer dilemma dates back to 2009 in Belvedere, when a survey indicated one third to one half of residents thought the population needed management.

More recently, a grassroots "Deer Committee" proposed hiring a contractor to thin the population.

Problems cited among deer critics: property damage, vehicle collisions, and the risk of Lyme disease from deer-borne ticks.

The panel presenting information to the audience included a specialist from the Humane Society of the United States, which supervises wildlife sterilization programs elsewhere, both surgically and through darts that render a deer infertile for a year. 

"Surgery isn't pretty and there's no way to pretty it up," said Craig Stowers, an environmental scientist with California Fish and Wildlife. 

"If you're going to put deer down and surgically operate on them it's not going to be a pretty sight."

For some in the audience, neither option seemed reasonable.

"The deer are a gift," said one resident during the question and answer session.

"What is your value system? Did you come here for the natural beauty, which is all wildlife and living comfortably together?"

Another opponent noted that sterilization efforts could be blocked by residents who would not allow wildlife biologists onto their private property, where the deer are present.

"Before the city spends any money, they need to find out how many residents will object to this and veto it, that's the next step," declared the man, who wore felt antlers and carried a sign emblazoned "Deer Sanctuary Property." 

Much of the discussion also centered on what residents can do to minimize deer damage to their yards.

"The fact is you're always going to be living with some deer," noted panelist Alison Hermance of Wildcare, "and they want three things, food, water and shelter."

Deer fences can be effective, but panelists said they should be at least eight feet high and Belvedere city code limits fences to six feet.

"Do you have any recommendations on the shape of the fence, can it go up and go sideways at an angle to stop them?" queried one resident. 

Either sterilization option would require study and a complex permitting process, that would take well over one year.

"The long term reality is, there will be deer in this community," observed another environmental scientist, John Krause of California Fish and Wildlife.

"Hopefully, you guys can continue to live with them."

Members of Belvedere's City Council were present for the forum, and will use the information and discussion to consider next steps.