Varied options discussed

ALAMOSA — Once again the Alamosa city council is attempting to address the city’s prolific deer population.

Meeting with Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) Area Wildlife Manager Rick Basagoitia Wednesday night, the council discussed its options for managing the deer.

Alamosa Mayor Kathy Rogers said deer problems in the city have been ongoing for years.

“It seems like the population is increasing ... We want to get information to see what our options might be.”

Basagoitia said the city and DOW have limited options: education of the populace on not feeding the deer and what to plant, build or apply to deter them; an ordinance giving the animal control officer more authority to write tickets for illegal activity such as feeding the deer; special hunting season, for example on the ranch property; sharpshooter services to reduce the population; or just live with it.

“Realistically there’s not a heck of a lot you can do,” Basagoitia said.

He said some portions of the population would rather take out all the deer while others love them and actually encourage them. He said he worked for a time in Boulder where deer were prolific and hunting prohibited, and he routinely had to put down deer that were injured by fences, dogs or cars, “and sometimes it’s very, very ugly.”

He said people have the perception that deer live in harmony with the human population, “and that’s not the case.”

He added that while people are living in a city in Alamosa, they are also still in a mountain community where wildlife exist.

He explained that mule deer, the animals most prevalent in Alamosa, are classified by the state as big game and as wildlife are property of the people of the state. The DOW’s mission is to protect, preserve and enhance wildlife for the people of the state, he said.

The DOW has a responsibility to manage wildlife and the statutes specify hunting, fishing and trapping as means to manage wildlife, he added.

The DOW also has certain liabilities for big game, specifically in relation to agriculture. The situation is different and more complicated when it comes to municipalities, Basagoitia said. For one thing, municipalities typically restrict firearm usage in the city limits.

Basagoitia explained that wildlife like deer and elk will “make their living” where the “groceries” are easiest to obtain, and they do not have the natural fear they used to have because they have learned they can live among the human population with few consequences.

“The only way to get them out is make it not comfortable, take the resources away,” he said.

City Councilor Marcia Tuggle asked if other communities had devised creative ways of dealing with the deer.

“Unfortunately no,” Basagoitia said. “Everybody is dealing with it. It is difficult. It is frustrating. There’s not really a good solution.”

He said often people will suggest that the DOW gather the deer up and truck them out of town, but that is not a solution because: it is expensive; the deer simply return; and many of the deer die as a result of the stressful relocation process.

Basagoitia said four or five years ago the DOW worked with the City of Alamosa on an experimental distribution deer hunt on the Alamosa Ranch, and the result was comparable or even higher than success rates during most hunting seasons, 17-22 percent, he said. The actual numbers of deer taken out of the population were 6-9, all does.

Rogers said the deer hunt was controversial, with complaints from both hunters and non hunters. Hunters, for example, were upset they had to qualify to participate. Basagoitia said that was because accuracy was critical for safety reasons.

Basagoitia said something like that always comes with public pressure. He said he had calls from angry ladies in Castle Rock, and Don Koskelin, assistant city manager, said the city staff received calls from people in Chicago who were upset.

Councilman Charles Griego asked if the city could permit hunting on the Alamosa Ranch. Basagoitia said it could do that but the Division of Wildlife would have to be involved.

“We would have to work on that together,” he said.

He said a hunting season could be established. “We would have to create a season, issue licenses and move forward.”

The Division of Wildlife would also have to become involved if the city council decided to use a sharpshooter to thin the herd, Basagoitia said. Alamosa Police Lieutenant Duane Oakes said the police department has a certified sniper that could be used if the city went that route.

Basagoitia recommended providing information to the public so residents know what is illegal and so they know what types of vegetation to plant or products they could use to deter deer. For example, liquid fences can be effective.

“There’s nothing that’s a cure all,” he said. “There’s no silver bullet.”

He added, “The reality is you are always going to have deer in town. That’s not going to go away.”

Councilor Josef Lucero said he loves the deer and does not care if they are in his backyard. He said if the city authorizes hunting or a sharpshooter, it can expect some public outcry. He added if the city does take out some animals, the meat should be donated to La Puente.

Faustin Martinez, who serves on the ranch board and lives next to the ranch, said the deer are a big nuisance in Alamosa. He said deer wrecked his backyard fence, for example. He said he liked the idea of setting up an area for hunting.

Mayor Rogers said it looks like the city has some options.

Tuggle said she would like to invite the public to make comments on this situation, “give people a chance to say where they are coming from ... give them a chance to voice how they feel.”

Rogers said the city would hold a public forum at some point.