MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT TASK FORCE OF
THE VILLAGE OF OTTAWA HILLS, OHIO HELD IN THE COMMUNTIY ROOM ON
MARCH 16, 2015 AT 7:00 P.M.
The March 16, 2015 meeting of the Ottawa Hills Wildlife Management Task Force was called to
order at 7 PM by Chairman Corey Hupp. In addition to Mr. Hupp, committee members present
included Jack Straub, Gerry Kowalski, Tony Bassett, Doug Adams Arman, Wendy Greeley and
Leah Hileman. Committee members Richard Hylant, Duke Wheeler and Alice Robie-Resnick
were absent from the meeting.
Others in attendance included Scott Butterworth, Bob Ford, Mrs. Shibley, Gayle Austin, Todd
and Sarah Mierzwiak, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Daverio, Brian Buckey, Jim Wolfe, Dan and Carol
Hylant, John Longthorne, Michael and Nancy Eisenstodt, Bill Steele, Kay Saxby, Kathy Miller,
Stacy Davis, Krista Havill, Joe Hall, Carol Ponder, Mary Dalby, Troy Greeley, Jeff Nelson, Deb
Isley, John and Cheryl Naylor, Spencer Colton, Darcy Davis, Stanley Sawicki, David
Langendorfer, Priya Varanasi, and Marc Thompson.
Gerry Kowalski made a motion to approve the minutes from the February 16 meeting. Doug
Adams Arman seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
Chairman Hupp then briefly reviewed the agenda emphasizing that the committee wishes to
explore all options related to deer management and informed the group that the primary item on
the agenda was a presentation related to the deer management efforts in the Village of Granville
Ohio. He provided brief history regarding the Village of Granville, reminded everyone to sign in
and ask that if they had questions to please raise their hands to be recognized.
Mr. Hupp then introduced Molly Prasher from the Village of Granville.
Ms. Prasher thanked everyone for the opportunity to speak and return to the area of her college
education. She commented that she was a graduate of Bowling Green State University. Mrs.
Prasher said that in many respects Granville was similar to Ottawa Hills. Granville is larger with
7 square miles and is the home of Denison University. A count done several years ago indicated
there were approximately 700 deer in Granville. In 2007 deer related problems generated a series
of community meetings and exploration of problems and potential solutions.
Granville looked at other communities and based their programs on a combination of Indian Hill,
Gahana, New Albany, and Solon, Ohio among other locations. She emphasized the need for any
deer management plan to be comprehensive and include education, restrictions on deer feeding
as well as other efforts. In Granville for example, they also diverted deer trails to reduce
problems on specific properties.
Ms. Prasher said that they experienced three groups of opinions related to reducing the deer
population. Some people would not support a reduction in the deer population under any
conditions, others were anxious to remove deer from the community and a third group wanted
the deer population reduced but were not sure of the best method to accomplish that goal.
Ms. Prasher then began to describe the controlled deer hunting program that has been in
existence in Granville for the past several years. She handed out a spreadsheet showing statistics
related to the last several years of deer hunting in Granville.
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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT TASK FORCE OF
THE VILLAGE OF OTTAWA HILLS, OHIO HELD IN THE COMMUNTIY ROOM ON
MARCH 16, 2015 AT 7:00 P.M.
She described that property owners with 4 acres or more could volunteer to have a hunter on
their property. In some cases property owners combined their properties to meet the 4 acre
minimum. She indicated they choose hunters very carefully doing background checks, requesting
resumes, not allowing felons or anyone with a violent criminal conviction to participate. Selected
hunters must be highly skilled and pass a proficiency test. Many come from faraway distances.
They have just finished their eighth year of the controlled hunt and they have had only three
complaints from citizens.
Hunting generally does not occur in parks but they put up signs along some walking paths which
are near properties where hunting may occur. She emphasized that safety is a big issue and to the
best of her knowledge there has never been an archery death in Ohio. The residents seem pleased
with the program and anecdotal evidence is very positive. While there are still deer in Granville,
she believes the number has been reduced substantially.
Ms. Prasher reviewed the statistics over the past several years and reviewed the hunting maps
and the method by which locations are assigned. They have hunting areas and tracking areas.
Hunting is permitted only in the hunting areas and in the adjacent tracking areas hunters are
permitted to follow deer that have been shot. She reviewed the other rules and procedures of the
program. She also emphasized that the hunting program can be done and can be successful.
She said the community considered hiring professionals which would probably be more effective
but would be very expensive and more controversial. For example, the Columbus Metroparks
have used sharpshooters, usually park rangers.
Sarah Mierzwiak said that she had contacted the Columbus Metroparks system and that in
previous years they had tried to relocate deer and they tried contraceptive programs. Both failed
and they have used professionals for culling for the past several years.
Mark Davis entered the meeting at this time.
In response to a question from Deb Isley about the costs of the program, Ms. Prasher estimated
about $5000 annually including costs for background checks and other administrative costs. She
also stated the deer herd in Granville was very healthy and that their controlled hunt may not
always be keeping up with the birth rate. They are allowing hunters to take coyote now because
of their growing population.
Stacy Davis commented that without ongoing deer counts the success of the program is not
possible to determine. Ms. Prasher commented that the number of complaints from citizens had
diminished and that even without a specific annual count, Granville citizens and officials believe
the program is successful and endorse its continuation.
Joe Hall of Fordway said that he lives on a deer path and has seen anywhere from 6 to 16 deer
travel through his property at one time. He said his biggest concern was not destruction of plant
material, but that his son can’t play in the backyard. He said that yesterday he picked up 29 piles
of deer droppings and that he strongly endorses some effort to reduce the deer population.
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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT TASK FORCE OF
THE VILLAGE OF OTTAWA HILLS, OHIO HELD IN THE COMMUNTIY ROOM ON
MARCH 16, 2015 AT 7:00 P.M.
In response to a question, Mrs. Prasher said that Granville has no problem getting hunters and
she was confident that Ottawa Hills could get a number of hunters as well. They rely only on
responsible people to do the hunting and they have no problems with hunters or their behavior.
Hunters are required to take two does before a hunter takes a buck. She also commented that
Granville prohibits feeding of the deer by citizens.
In response to a question from Michael Eisenstodt, Ms. Prasher said that the hunting occurs
throughout the hunting season and they also have permission to do nuisance hunts as approved
by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. She said that their preference would be to have
each hunter get three deer, one buck and two antlerless deer, but normally hunters do not get
three deer.
Mr. Naylor stated that those people who are unhappy with the current number of deer would be
just as unhappy with a reduced number of deer so there was no point in reducing the deer herd.
Mrs. Prasher responded stating that a reduced number of deer will change deer behavior and
perhaps would lessen the impact on residential lots.
Kathy Miller also of Fordway Drive described problems that they have experienced including
safety problems and concern for potential auto accidents.
Mrs. Prasher stated hunting was restricted to a period commencing 30 minutes before sunrise and
ending 30 minutes after sunset. Maps are provided and notice to property owners is very
important.
Nancy Eisenstodt commented that Granville was 7 square miles and with 700 deer Granville had
a deer population of 100 deer per square mile. She contrasted that with the Village of Ottawa
Hills which has a population of 37 deer per square mile. Mrs. Eisenstodt continued by stating
that in the absence of periodic counts, they don’t know how many deer continue to live in the
Granville area.
Mr. Daverio said that regardless of the number of deer, it appears that the number of citizen
complaints has diminished.
Jim Wolfe of W. Bancroft St. said the deer have eaten all the ivy and the arborvitae on his
property. Ivy was on the list of plants that deer do not typically eat so this indicates that they are
changing their behavior.
Sarah Mierzwiak said that she hoped that there would be a number of volunteers to help the
committee in its efforts and that she hoped the committee would broaden its view to and consider
the entire environment. She has put together an information piece regarding Ottawa Hills and its
environment indicating that the Village is part of a very fragile and rare ecosystem that should be
well-managed. At this point the ecosystem is not well-managed and deer are a major part of the
problem. She said the watershed area was poorly managed and the controlling deer is a key part
of the effort but there must also be an effort to deal with invasive species. She hoped the Village
Council would retain a resource manager and develop a broad based resource management plan.
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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT TASK FORCE OF
THE VILLAGE OF OTTAWA HILLS, OHIO HELD IN THE COMMUNTIY ROOM ON
MARCH 16, 2015 AT 7:00 P.M.
Jeff Nelson, of Fordway Dr. said that he thought many deer came from an area south of the
Village specifically pointing out the natural areas immediately south of the bike path.
Mr. Wolfe said that he thought the greatest threat to the ecosystem was deer. He said that he used
to enjoy watching the deer in his yard but now the situation has gotten much worse and they are
a threat to the community ecosystem.
Bill Steele of Talmadge Road related an incident that occurred in his yard a few months ago. As
a result, Ottawa Hills Police had to euthanize a young, injured fawn.
An anonymous member of the audience mentioned that deer have sharp hooves and that she now
fears deer in her yard and as a result no longer has free use of her yard.
Mrs. Prasher stated that many people in Granville were afraid of the deer and that the deer, in
contrast, are no longer afraid of citizens. They understand that they have nothing to fear from a
normal citizen in a typical rear yard.
Mr. Hupp thanked Mrs. Prasher for her contributions to our understanding; noting that she drove
three hours from Granville and now has a three hour drive home.
In response to a request from Nancy Eisenstodt, Mr. Hupp indicated that he would contact a
biologist who works in the City of Rochester Hills, Michigan who has developed a wildlife
management plan for that community which does not involve a lethal option. Mrs. Eisenstodt
had provided a newspaper article which described the plan.
Sarah Mierzwiak asked for a show of hands regarding how many people would like to change
the question to that of an ecosystem issue as opposed to a deer management issue.
Mr. Naylor asked if there was any consideration given to making the meadow areas more deer
friendly so they would naturally stay in the meadow areas and spend less time on residential lots.
Mr. Hupp displayed an Indiana Whitetail Deer Management Plan as well as a document
produced by the Cornell Extension Service. Both would be made available for interested citizens.
Leah Hileman described the draft report she is developing detailing what citizens can do to make
their yards less attractive to deer. She stated that she had developed a list of 20 tips on how to
deal with deer as well as other animals such as coyote, raccoon, etc. For example, she said that
the time of day in which people water the lawn can have an impact, along with the nature of their
birdfeeders and what is planted in the yards. She also mentioned that there are a lot of invasive
species in the river area which is creating a larger and larger problem.
Mr. Hupp said that the result of Mrs. Hileman’s work will be included in the overall deer
management plan.
Doug Adams Armand reported on the conclusion his group reached regarding the appropriate
number of deer per square mile. They concluded that 15 to 20 deer per square mile is probably
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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT TASK FORCE OF
THE VILLAGE OF OTTAWA HILLS, OHIO HELD IN THE COMMUNTIY ROOM ON
MARCH 16, 2015 AT 7:00 P.M.
the maximum number that can be accommodated in our community. Since the Village is 2
square miles in size, the total number of deer in the Village should be in the 30 to 40 range.
Bob Ford of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources stated that there was not a right or wrong
answer regarding the number of deer per square mile. He suggested that efforts to reduce the
herd, if any, should be based on citizen complaints and he thought that citizen complaints should
be the driving force with the goal of reducing complaints regardless of the number of deer. He
also commented that ODNR will be allowing four deer tags in Lucas County for the coming
year.
Nancy Eisenstodt reminded everyone that the community had a vote five years ago and at that
time the majority of citizens said they did not want to kill any deer.
Mark Davis said the vote was very close and that there were many passionate people involved.
He emphasized the need to strike a balance between the number of deer and the damage that they
do. He suggested that a new vote might be different if taken now.
Gerry Kowalski provided the report of the fence subcommittee reviewing the current fencing
restrictions and some of the recent history. The committee also did extensive literature research
before developing their recommendations. The committee’s conclusion was that the existing
fence restrictions as included in the Zoning Code are satisfactory and at this point the committee
recommends no changes in the fence code related to deer fencing.
Discussion followed regarding some of the seasonal limitations included in the current fencing
restrictions and whether or not those might be extended. Mrs. Greeley commented that one
concern of the committee was that if allowed to stay up year-round, the condition of the deer
fencing and its appearance would deteriorate over time.
Under the heading of old business, Mr. Hupp said that there would be a field trip on April 18
between 2 and 4 PM. Bob Ford and Scott Butterworth from the Department of Natural Resources
as well as Timothy Walters a plant biologist would be in the Village reviewing deer damage and
providing an opportunity for citizens to ask questions about deer damage at various locations.
The next meeting of the committee will be on April 20 and will be a town hall format which will
allow citizens to speak. The location of the meeting will be determined and publicized.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 9:08 PM.
Corey Hupp, Chairman
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