Belvedere City Manager’s Blog

The Deer Committee findings and recommendations will be presented at the November 9, 2009 City Council Meeting.  Black-tailed deer remain a common sight in Belvedere, particularly on the Island.  The deer feed on a variety of plants, traverse well-worn paths, and bed in pockets of dense vegetation.  In early 2009, the City of Belvedere established a Deer Committee to review the issues.

The Deer Committee held seven public meetings from February to September of 2009. All meetings were noticed and public.  Audio recordings of all of the meetings were made available the following morning on the City’s Podcast page and are still available today.   A community-wide questionnaire was sent out to gauge local concern on the issue. The questionnaire had an impressive 50 percent response rate. Results showed the majority of respondents resided on the Island, and wished for more efforts toward deer population control.  Concerns ranged from yard damage to fear of personal injury.  A City Deer Webpage will be developed (in progress) that will house all deer information for the City (packets, meeting agendas, audio links, resources etc.).

The findings of the Deer Committee represent months of effort by more than 20 people holding public meetings, investigating, researching, analyzing, and learning about a controversial topic and potential solutions that proved far more elusive than originally thought. The recommendations represent well-thought out conclusions on a complicated issue.  Early on, representatives from the State Department of Fish and Game (DFG) were adamant that the deer were a State resource that could not be proactively addressed without the advice and consent of DFG.  DFG identified the four alternatives:  Relocation, Sterilization, Depredation, and Education.  DFG indicated that “relocation” efforts were no longer supported by DFG and could not be considered as a viable alternative. Further, DFG advised that “sterilization” programs had proven unreliable and would require extensive environmental review before they could be considered by DFG. Depredation or “hunting” was an option, but because of the urbanized area, DFG would still require extensive environmental review. Finally, DFG indicated that prior to issuing any individual property owner a depredation permit, the property owner must use any and all measures available to deter the deer (landscaping changes, fencing, warning devices, etc.) and if these measures are unsuccessful, the property owner then must identify the exact deer causing the damage. DFG would then issue the permit for depredation only for that deer and only with the approval of the local regulatory agency with respect to weapon laws.

Ultimately, the committee findings showed the most appropriate approach to the City’s deer situation is to provide more extensive education to the community.  Deer control methods such as landscaping with deer-resistant plants, repellents, low-impact fencing will need to be embraced community-wide for the most effective results.  It remains a violation of State and local laws to feed deer (Marin County Ordinance 8.04.226 and California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 251.3).  With respect to health concerns, in California, the tick species (Ixodes pacificus) that is the host of Lyme Disease is predominately a parasite of rodents, lizards, and birds – not deer.

September to December is the “rutting” or mating season for deer.  This is the time when mature bucks increase their displays of dominance.  April to June is the birthing season.  Does are known to be more aggressive toward perceived threats against their young during this period.  It is always advisable to avoid contact with deer – especially during these times of the year.

If you need immediate assistance with a deer-related problem, contact the Belvedere Police Department (435-3266) and/or the Marin Humane Society (883-4621).  You can also report deer incidents to the City directly at 435-3838.