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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes MINUTES Urban Wildlife Advisory Committee Meeting August 23, 2010 CALL TO ORDER AND ROLLCALL The Meeting was called to order at 4:47 P.M. Present: Michael Beeth, LorRae Crubaugh, Richard Hall, Nikki Hronis, Cecil Streeter, Steve Voss, Wendy Suzuki Absent: Grady Bullington, Steve Cummings Staff: Ray Maurer, Parks Director; Trish Wendorf, Recording Secretary APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Hronis for approval of the June 24, 2010 minutes, as distributed. Seconded by Suzuki. Motion carried 5-0. CITIZEN’S STATEMENTS There were no citizen’s statements. MR. STREETER ARRIVED AT 4:50 PM, MAKING A 6-MEMBER COMMITTEE. BUSINESS 1)Review monthly car accident reports from Police Department Ms. Wendorf explained the spreadsheet (said spreadsheet on file at the City Park’s office and made a part of these minutes) noting that the reports for March, June & July were not submitted by the Oshkosh Police Department (OPD) at this time. As soon as those numbers are received from the OPD, Ms. Wendorf will update the spreadsheet and provide the Committee with same. Ms. Wendorf reported that the OPD had called this morning about a dead deer carcass on South Park Avenue that they wanted to turn over to the Menominee Park Zoo for the wolves. 2)Update on quarry owner cooperation with deer management Mr. Maurer reported that with the new Quarry management filling their positions and his own schedule, there has not been an opportunity to schedule a visit to the Quarry. Mr. Maurer will attempt to obtain some potential dates for a visit to the Quarry and report back to the Committee. It is hoped that the Committee will also be allowed to be in attendance for the visit, but at this time that is unknown. Urban Wildlife Advisory Committee Minutes Page -2- AUGUST 23, 2010 3)Discuss draft management plan Mr. Maurer suggested reviewing the proposed document section by section would be most helpful. BACKGROUND Ms. Suzuki inquired if the City’s population figure should be included under Background? Mr. Maurer stated it could be included. Mr. Streeter stated the word “species” is troublesome as he is not so sure it is the species, but the “number”, that is the issue. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM Mr. Maurer suggested adding a sentence “Eradication is not an option, rather a sustainable level of the species”. DEFINITION OF A PROBLEM Mr. Beeth inquired if it is the committee’s job to define a problem? Mr. Maurer stated it was. Mr. Beeth stated the proposed paragraph contains numerous questions and that is not a definition. Mr. Hall inquired when does it become a danger? Does that entail a “physical” danger as well? He suggested changing the title of that paragraph. Mr. Streeter inquired “what is an urban wildlife problem”? Mr. Maurer stated a determination needs to be made as to what is an urban wildlife problem. It was the consensus of the Committee to put the Definition of a Problem paragraph before the Wildlife Management Program paragraph. BACKGROUND/FINDINGS Ms. Suzuki suggested inserting the types of health issues (Lyme disease, CWD, etc.) in the second line after the word “health”. What are the real concerns in a broader manner? Ms. Hronis stated a determination needs to be made on how a herd is managed, then the Committee needs to determine how to manage each individual herd. Mr. Streeter stated that should be covered under the History paragraph. Discussion ensued as to where to place a paragraph on three different herds. Ms. Suzuki suggested changing the subparagraph Resolution Options to Abatement Options. Under subparagraph Landscape Management, Mr. Beeth suggested removing the word “thoughtful” in the first bullet point and removing the words “or eliminated”. Ms. Hronis stated she held a conversation with a City Manager of another community who stated she didn’t feel the trapping, if not managed correctly, was not humane. Discussion ensued as to ways of humane and inhumane capture/trappings. Urban Wildlife Advisory Committee Minutes Page -3- AUGUST 23, 2010 Mr. Streeter suggested putting the Trapping and Relocation bullet points before the Trapping and Euthanasia bullet points. It was the consensus to take out bullet point #2. With respect to bullet point #3, it should read “Deer suffers from stress and injuries in the trap.” Mr. Streeter stated the Trapping and Relocation should only contain the first two bullet points – the other ones are moot and not even an option. It was the consensus of the Committee to remove the remaining bullet points per Mr. Streeter’s suggestion. Mr. Streeter also suggested inserting the word “Currently” for the opening of bullet point #2. Ms. Crubaugh arrived at this time (5:30 PM) thereby making a 7-member Committee. Mr. Streeter inquired as to where “trapping and neutering” would be placed in the plan? Mr. Maurer stated that those alternatives could be placed under “contraception”. With respect to subparagraph “Cull Herd by Bow and Arrow”, Ms. Suzuki expressed concern of the danger of hitting a human bystander if a shot is missed by a hunter. Ms. Hronis stated liability issues needs to be addressed by sharpshooters for bow and arrow. Mr. Streeter stated that a bond and insurance would be required for sharpshooters as there are potential liability dangers that need to be addressed. Mr. Maurer suggested that bullet point #2 under “Cull Herd by Bow and Arrow” should read “Humane if the deer is dispatched quickly by a qualified shot”. With respect to subparagraph “Cull Herd by Rifle Sharpshooters”, it was suggested to remove the first bullet point. Potential liability and safety should be addressed. The second bullet point should be consistent and read “Deer are dispatched quickly with a high quality shot.” Bullet point #3, should be changed to “costs can be $200 per deer”. Ms. Suzuki suggested that bullet point #4 read “This method removes the most deer in the shortest amount of time. Bullet point #5 should read “Very safe option provided there is a good plan in place and adhered to.” Mr. Beeth inquired as to who are the established professional group in Wisconsin that could be used – with respect to bullet point #7? Ms. Suzuki inquired why leave the last bullet point in? Mr. Streeter stated some people don’t want to have any deer in the city or any wildlife. With respect to the “Contraception” subparagraph, it was suggested to get rid of expenses and types of humane or inhumane. Bullet point #4 should read “No pain or discomfort of any kind”. Bullet point #5 should read “Up to $1,000 per deer”. Bullet point #6 should read “Researchers have not had good results in testing this method in the free- roaming herds”. Also, with respect to the subparagraph “Contraception”, Ms. Hronis stated that the last bullet point needs to be confirmed. She offered to do more research with respect to contraception subparagraph. With respect to most of these alternatives, it was suggested that with respect to grants, there should be reference to there being funding options for many of these abatement options have potential DNR funding. When stating “fairly expensive”, those are judgment calls and set up for an argument. Mr. Beeth left at this time (6:00 PM), thereby leaving a 6-member Committee. With respect to page 5, paragraph 4, Mr. Streeter stated there would be a need for cooperation from the townships with respect to the plan. Page 5, paragraph 5, Mr. Maurer suggested with respect to the population figure, he had used the Milwaukee Metro Unit as he felt it was good to leave that general reference in the document. Urban Wildlife Advisory Committee Minutes Page -4- AUGUST 23, 2010 Discussion ensued as to the first sentence under “Recommendations” on page 5 and it was the consensus to remove the sentence, to-wit: “If the deer population increases to more than 25 deer per square mile of habitat, then the deer should be actively managed,” Mr. Maurer suggested inviting Mr. Brian Woodbury of the DNR to the next regularly scheduled meeting to help us determine the suitable number. Mr. Maurer stated he will call his contact person at the USDA about managing geese. CANADA GEESE CONTROL BACKGROUND/FINDINGS Mr. Streeter suggested changing the word “reducing” to “managing” in the first sentence. Ms. Suzuki stated firearms are not allowed in the City limits. She stated that there should be a notation made to the effect that there is a City Ordinance about firearms not being allowed in the City. Under “Cats”, Ms. Hronis suggested adding a bullet point “spay and/or neuter your own cat”. Another bullet point she would like added is “Keep vaccinations current”. She stated there is a program called “Play Trap Neuter Release” for feral cats. Mr. Maurer suggested that Ms. Hronis gather pertinent information on this program so it can be placed on the City’s website. Ms. Hronis stated that the feral groups are healthier than the public realizes. Under “Raccoons”, Ms. Suzuki stated they are very nasty animals. Mr. Streeter suggested changing the first sentence to read, “Raccoons are common throughout the City of Oshkosh, are nocturnal, and they den in hollow trees, brush piles, rock crevices, storm sewer, etc.” Ms. Suzuki suggested adding the word “Acceptable” to the caption of “Control Methods”. It was suggested to add the following as an additional bullet point for each category, to-wit: “Contact a local nuisance control/licensed professional for removal”. Mr. Maurer inquired if the Committee felt it necessary to keep in the White Footed Mice or Gray Squirrels? Mr. Voss stated it should be “Mice” in general. Ms. Suzuki suggested “Rodents” in general. Mr. Streeter suggested “Mice/Rodents”. Mr. Streeter suggested that Possums be added to the “Raccoons” paragraph. It was suggested to add Chipmunks to the Gray Squirrels category. 4)Discuss applying for Urban Wildlife Abatement Grant Mr. Maurer suggested holding up the application. He would like to invite DNR staff for helping the Committee establish management goal for the white tail deer. Mr. Streeter inquired with the City’s strategic plans, would any information from this Committee be included in those plans? Urban Wildlife Advisory Committee Minutes Page -5- AUGUST 23, 2010 Mr. Maurer stated yes, the Committee’s findings/work would be included in some manner in the Parks 5 year park and open space plan. 5. Topics for next meeting Establish management goal for whitetail deer  Discuss other community action plans  CITIZENS STATEMENTS There were no citizen statements. ADJOURNMENT There being no other business, Motion by Hall for adjournment; seconded by Streeter. Motion carried 6– 0. The meeting adjourned at 6:40 PM. Respectfully submitted, Trish Wendorf Recording Secretary