_text_

Thank you for your letter in the Village Voice. I have gone on record with Marc Thompson that I strongly oppose this deer kill. I have lived in the Village for over 26 years. Initially we had pheasant, fox and beautiful deer. Two out of the three are gone and now steps are being taken to reduce the population of deer.
I enjoy the deer. They come on my property because I have many gardens that they enjoy. I have taken many steps to prevent them from eating my favorite flowers. I place Irish Spring soap in the gardens and they don't like the smell. I also use various sprays which repels them. I have found these measures helpful while not 100% successful.
I think that it will be a waste of money to hire these sharp shooter to come in to kill the deer.
I think we should thoroughly investigate other avenues before we take this drastic steps.
Please advise whether there is anything more I can do. Again, thank you for your web site.
Alice Robie Resnick, Edgehill.

Culling is a euphemism for killing. I don't want shooting of any kind in the village. What can I do to help?
Susan Doktor, Orchard

I want it known that my husband and I are very much opposed to this proposed plan. I personally think it inherently dangerous to the people who reside in Ottawa Hills, or those passing through, if not barbaric.
There has got to be a better way to "cull" the deer population than hiring sharpshooters to lure, then shoot the deer that are found in the village. I do not want my tax money going to this end. I will continue to try to access the website so that I can sign the petition opposing this plan.
Brenda Rutledge

Please add our names to your petition. I am having a little trouble getting on your website. I attended the 10/5 meeting and left with the impression that the council has already made up their minds on this issue. (it will happen) My wife and I are not for the deer cull. thankyou
Jim and Linda Jenkins
4258 Bonniebrook

Hi: My husband and I are not happy about the deer hunt. You can add both of our names to your petition. We appreciate your efforts with this issue.
Tracy and Nabil Ebraheim
2935 Valleyview Drive

Wouldn't it be more cost-effective, with the same outcome, to have signs posted around our Village "Deer Not Allowed"???!!! I have a chipmunk "home invasion" going on as we speak, but nobody's talking about killing them!
Margaret Penn Rodriguez
3550 Ridgewood Road

I just got off the phone with Scott Butterworth at ODNR.

Marc Thompson's communications with ODNR has not played up the deer/vehicle or human/deer safety aspect. According to Scott, this has been a non-issue. Marc's presentation to Scott and likewise communication to ODNR, subsequent to Ottawa Hills initial filing of July 16th, has revolved around the social carrying capacity and damage to personal property ornamentals. The permit, according to Scott, will be issued upon the insistence of each individual landowner after a site visit by ODNR. The only recourse the community has is to mobilize in opposition and illustrate to the village that there is a concensus which is in opposition.

It is hard to believe that a few landowners can exert such power over a community; hence, it is imperative that village council become aware that the residents of Ottawa Hills do not want to be dictated to by a few landscape enthusiasts. I wonder how the residents of Lucas County, in the communities which abut Ottawa Hills, feel about deer culling based on a few landscaper's self-interest.

Michael Eisenstodt

The plan is to shoot 50 deer in Ottawa Hills. Some rationalize the slaughter thinking the deer will be better off dead. Watch this video and you will see that senseless killing results in needless suffering.

White Buffalo is the Company that the village has contacted to cull the deer. The link is as follows: http://www.sharkonline.org/?P=0000000431. Just a work of warning about the video, it is very unpleasant.

Ottawa Hills Village council plans to vote on legislation permitting the deer hunt on Monday November 23rd at 7:30 pm. This meeting will be at the Elementary School.

At this point, only a significant demonstration of opposition will prevent the hunt. Delia and John Longthorne are inviting everyone to their home at 4341 Bonniebrook Road at 6:30 11/23 to create protest signs before we head over to Council meeting. We will have some wood handles for signs and poster board.

Please join us at our home or meet us directly in front of Elementary School at 7:10.
It is time to step up to stop the slaughter!

John and Delia Longthorne
4341 Bonniebrook

I actually saw a large deer go down the path towards the elementary school off of Brookside to Indian Road in broad daylight. Would you want your grandchild/child to be coming the other way as that starving deer was going down the path looking for food?

Anonymously posted

I would like to state I am strongly opposed to culling the deer in the village.
Thanks,

Nasreen Bhumbra MD
2946 Avatar Ct.
Ottawa Hills OH 43615

I have been trying all the web sites mentioned in today's Blade and can't get one to come up. We have had a deer feeder in our back yard since we moved back into the family home on Edgevale. We wait till the first heavy frost-kills ticks- and take it down during the Spring and Summer. I have asked all my neighbors if they object and they say no, they enjoy watching the deer in the Winter. Yes, they eat landscaping, but you can spray liquid fence and it works pretty well. They will come into your yard, feeder or not. I have a lovely picture of an 8 point buck eating out of my bird feeder.
My main objection is: the deer seem to be coming from Wildwood-Sylvania Township and Toledo. I do not believe the report of 40 deer between Richards and Secor. That is where my deer come from and the most I've seen at any time has been 9 at the feeder. Why should my tax money be spent to solve Sylvania Township's problem? We don't even get any Venison meat. Since we're paying for this and the meat is being given to charity, can I deduct some of the cost on my tax return? (As if!) Get a special permit and shoot them where they live -Wildwood.
I have posted my property No Hunting and so has one of my neighbors. I haven't talked to the others, but I think they will too.

Christine Vischer
3553 Edgevale Rd.

Diane and I want to go on record as being against use of tax dollars to cull the deer.
This is for the reasons you mentioned in your article in the v voice oct 09.

thank you

Bob Kalb

There are many ways to deal with deer. One, if you don’t want to live with them, then don’t live next to a wildlife preserve where theres hundreds of deer. Or if it’s the cost of controlling them, have a lottery for hunters that already have a deer hunter permit and do a bow only hunt in ottawa hills. It would be much safer and far cheaper. It wouldn’t cost no money. People, including myself, would pay to hunt them and "control" the population.

Lloyd Ritenour
Toledo ohio.

Ever since your legislation I have not seen one Deer in Ottawa Hills. To spend 25 or $30,000 is ridiculous why don't we donate $5,000 to a park for a feeding station. This would do two things, give the general population a chance to experience the deer and have deer migrate to the park. But in no way should our tax dollars be spent to kill the deer. I am sure that our local Police Department could kill the deer without any additional expense to the village. As far as liability you could set a feeding station in the Valley and have a blind located above it so there would be no chance of a stray bullet.

Hope you don't spend our money killing deer and is not the speed limit 25 mph in the village.


Dave Kasprzak

I was happy to read in the Blade that there is now a local group opposing this horrific "hunt." Although I don't live in Ottawa Hills, this issue has me very upset and I would like to be involved if possible. I don't think this is an issue that only affects Ottawa Hills residents. Thank you and keep up the updates. It's great to see I am not alone in my opinion!

Nicole Vidak
Swanton

Ned and I signed your online petition.

The 9-14-09 letter to the Blade by Nate Silverman says it all. The proposed deer eradication program is savage not to mention the fact that it creates more problems than it solves. Do you have a copy of this article?

I have attached a website for your review and have several questions prompted by the last section of said article about 'keeping your yard safe'. The article suggests ways to prevent deer from eating yard plants such as installing fencing, mesh, netting; plant vegetation that repels deer through smell and taste (somthing for Leah Hileman to write about in the Village Voice); plant native plants tolerant of deer browsing, perhaps in the case of the Village, plant in the meadow.

Would a combination of these methods work along with cooperation from Wildwood, letting the grass grow in the meadow and perhaps installing fencing in the meadow corridor to direct the deer's movement?

Myth 1- We live near the intersection of Brookside and Evergreen. Over the winter, deer ate a 75 ft length of yews and arborvitae (they've grown back bigger and bushier) and devoured daylillies etc over the summer. About the first of September, have not seen a single one. The alleged aerial count of 4 east of Evergreen is hilarious in that all four deer must have wintered and summered at 3812 and doesn't account for the numerous deer we saw up and down the street on a daily basis.

Do you know if residents' yards are still being populated by deer or have the deer migrated elsewhere as they have in my neighborhood?

Myth 2-you may want to check the police reports as I would not 'go to court' using Blade data.

Myth 3-I remember reading a Village Voice article that mentioned a man in the Village who had Lyme disease. You may want to verify the date of that occurrence.

Wishing Village Council would spend their time, and our tax money focusing on long term and realistic solutions to this situation. Let me know if I can be of any further help.

Debbie Fischer
3812 Brookside

Hello,
First, both a friend and I have tried to access your web site to sign the petition but cannot do so. Please provide a link and/or check into what may be causing the problem.
Second, has anyone considered providing more suitable habitat so deer would not be as prone to seek food sources in yards. In other words, stop mowing the vast majority of the meadow and allow natural browse to return. Dog walkers could be accommodated with mowed paths similar to Wildwood and the sledding hill and its base kept mowed. In addition to providing food for the deer, eliminating most of the mowing would save money, provide habitat for a variety of birds, and add beauty to the village. Those who doubt the beauty aspect only need drive into Wildwood at any time of the year and look at the managed meadows there. Also, look into the extent to which private intrusion into public lands is impacting the natural movement of deer into and out of the Metroparks lands. I am talking about homeowners mowing far beyond their property limits. The deer census is a joke. Are we to believe they refuse to cross Talmadge Road? As for the building around Wildwood forcing them into the Village, that construction largely ended some years ago.
Keep up your efforts. The administration needs to hear from more than a vocal few from what I suspect is largely one section of the Village.
Cheryl Lutz
Brookside Road

I to am opposed to the proposed culling of deer in Ottawa Hills, even though we have been affected by them as well.

I have talked to friends who also oppose killing the deer. One suggested an alternative would be to inject them with birth control injections instead.

Another idea was to build fences to keep them from crossing Wildwood park.

One has observed this was tried in Perrysburg and has failed.

Even though we were affected by the deer who last year ('08) ate all 12 plants of tomatoes, I think each person should
guard their homes and gardens with preventative measures. For example, we will put chicken wire around our garden next year, and around 3 fruit trees we planted this year. We should accomodate nature as much as we can
with remedies other than killing.

Also, I suggest spending the money on monthly collections of yard waste which has become I'm sure a problem for many.
Why should residents have to individually hire haulers to do this, when the Village workers could pick up yard waste say, once a month especially if we require residents to place on the curb to make it easier and more efficient.

I hope these recommendations will be listened to, and I am willing to follow up with any suggestions you might have for further organizing our opposition to culling.

Sincerely,

Anne Marie Abowd
3912 Brookside Rd.

What we need to do is have people go out and buy No Hunting signs to put in their yards. They cannot come on your property if it is posted. I got mine at TSC on Central.

Christine Vischer

I am very much against the killing of the deer. I was unable to get access to the petition using the site in the Blade. I would be willing to stop by to sign any paper. Earlier I had written a letter to Marc Thompson against the deer but received no response. We live on the meadow and enjoy seeing a deer once in a while. Also we feed the birds and squirrels-sometimes the deer try to eat the bird seed. It is really a thrill for me to see wild life in my backyard.

Jean Ann Davis
514 Palmwood Avenue
Toledo, Ohio 43604

I appreciate that the Village administration needs to be forward-thinking and not wait until problems emerge before taking action. In this case, however, the proposed deer cull, as I understand it, doesn't seem to be a response to an actual, existing problem, and the expenditure of funds and risks to the community seem to outweigh the potential for deer-related problems.

I have noticed an increase in the number of deer in the Village, though whether this means there are more deer here now then there used to be or whether they are just more visible because more of their former natural habitat has been turned into subdivisions is unclear to me. They've certainly never bothered me; in fact, I think they actually add value to the Village. I enjoy seeing them. Their presence suggests to me that Ottawa Hills is a place where nature and humanity live together in a shared space.

I also don't think that bringing in the firearms should be an early reaction to man vs nature conflicts. We have all been vividly and painfully reminded in the last year about the potential for horrific injuries to occur in Ottawa Hills when guns are involved. In the proposed cull, the men with guns wouldn't even be Village employees, subject to Village training. They would have a significant financial incentive to pull their triggers, since they would be paid per kill. That seems like a recipe for overzealousness. In a questionable situation, how do we expect the deer hunters to err on the side of standing down, while at the same time incentivizing each shot?

Before we take this step, shouldn't we try other things to mitigate whatever problems the deer may be causing? I understand some residents are concerned about deer destroying their plants, but I also understand that there are anti-deer treatments that can be applied to such plants. For considerably less than what the Village proposes to pay for a deer cull, the village could supply every villager who requests it with some of these treatments.

I suggest that this proposal be tabled for a year, during which time the Village should take a serious look at the harm (both actual and potential) caused by deer and balance that against the risks and costs a cull entails.

James F. Trumm
2236 Orchard Road, Toledo, OH 43606

While I do not live in Ottawa Hills, I've driven through it my entire life (45 plus years). I know people who live there now, and visited people who lived there when I was in Jr. & High School. I have yet to see a deer in Ottawa Hills. That said, I'm sure there are many. But I fail to understand people who want to live in places that include wildlife, and then complain about the wildlife - so much so, that they're discussing the idea of hiring murderers to come in & kill the deer. At extreme expense, and more than one time. I"ve read enough about how deer culls work, how often their aim is off, only to leave a wounded deer left to suffer & die. What message does this send for kids? I wonder what the kids of Ottawa Hills will witness if these deer are killed. And will those kids grow up to think it's ok to murder innocent animals? Those deer were there before the people came. Let them be.

Sandy Gulch

Why do you want to kill the harmless deer? Just stop planting food which they eat. I'm sure there are plenty beautiful trees, bushes etc. that don't grow food consumed by deer. We were created on this earth to live with not only dogs and cats, but also deer too. So, consider removing their food from your yards and you probably won't have a deer problem.
Mary Daniel

You are going about this the wrong way. You will NEVER be rid of your deer. You say the initial cost is 30,000 but you know it will need to be done again, maybe this year and for sure in years to come. A "no hunting" law was passed in 1940. Well, times change and your ordinance needs to also. You need to consider changing the no hunting ordinance to allow bow hunting. Here's what you do. Put an article in the Blade and other local papers that tells hunters you are having a lottery drawing for permits to hunt deer in Ottawa Hills. You restrict the area however you see fit. It's bow hunting, the shots are going to be 30 yards or less. No noise, no chance of anyone being shot. The applicants need to apply by sending a check for whatever amount you want. Say $5 to apply for the lottery drawing. That would completely offset the minimal costs involved in having the hunt. This way there are no guns fired, there is no cost to the taxpayers, the meat doesn't go to waste, and you have a viable option to control the heard every year. You could do this every year for free. It's an easy choice, if you're thinking with your head and not listening to people who don't know what they're talking about. Each female deer will have 2 or 3 fawns in the spring. There population will always be able to withstand an occasional slaughter like the one you're considering. However, if you hunt them every year, you can keep their population at a level you see fit for free!

BB Fisher

Please keep life long for all the animals.
Killing the deer that are crossing your yard is cruel.
It's NOT right. Think long and hard before taking a life of beautiful wildlife.
Thank You

Cathy Giha

This has got to be one of the most ridiculous issues that I have ever heard of. I have sat here for the past several months reading the village voice and hearing the complaints of some of the residents. Ottawa Hills was founded in 1915 and just so everyone knows, the deer were here prior to that. Ironically enough this area is an ideal habitat for deer and someone almost a century ago decided to build a village right in their home and they have been nice enough to share it with us since then. Urban sprawl is creating extremely bad situations for all kinds of animals and ecosystems and we are single handedly ruining the earth and wanting to pay $25,000 to do it? Are you kidding me, this is just nuts! Before people go making rash decisions and comments they should really educate themselves on the topics.

Some of the complaints:

First.....people being afraid of the deer........I have yet to hear of, read about, or seen anyone be attacked by this vicious beast! (We aren't talking about a Grizzly, it is a harmless deer)

Second.....creating a danger on the roads......to my knowledge we don't have any speed limit over 35 mph, if the deer are creating a hazard for someone on the road then my guess is that they are either driving too fast or they are the hazard themselves.

Third....the deer are sleeping in your yard.....hmm again I don't see how god awful this is, maybe we should try to get rid of the squirrels and opossum too

I have also heard we are looking to give the food to the hungry, while I am a regular volunteer at the homeless shelters and all food is appreciated, this is why we have food drives. We don't need to spend 25k to give them a venison dinner. Maybe a better idea, with the economy being so bad and there being so many people without jobs, if we have this much extra money to spend on frivolous things why not start spreading the wealth as our most popular president has indicated.

While I can not even believe this is an issue to be voted on, I sincerely hope that the people voting on this issue do NOT allow such inhumane and unjust acts to prevail here in Ottawa Hills!

See you at the meeting on the 23rd!

Carrie Miklovich

There no way they can "give" the meat to food pantries, etc., no matter how humane it may sound . . .

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that donating the deer carcasses to Harvesters Community Food Network to be used as food is an act that endangers the health and well-being of the recipients of such food. The deer meat so used is not inspected by any governmental agency as is normally required for all meats distributed through retail channels. The deer have been grazing on lawns on which pesticides and herbicides have been applied. These toxins bioaccumulate in the deer during its lifetime and are concentrated in its tissue. The amount of any kind of toxin is unpredictable without inspecting the meat from the deer carcasses.

Trudy Bond

http://www.cleveland.com/solonsun/news/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1229611088109080.xml&coll=4&thispage=1



Geiger settles lawsuit against city, culling firm
Thursday, December 18, 2008
By Bob Sandrick bsandrick@sunnews.com
Solon Herald Sun
A Solon deer-culling opponent has agreed to settle her lawsuit against the city and its deer-culling firm, White Buffalo Inc.
Belinda Geiger, of Cannon Road, will receive $12,500 from the city and $12,500 from White Buffalo for a total of $25,000.
Rob McClelland, a city attorney, said Geiger had initially requested a settlement of more than $100,000, but he didn't know the exact amount.


Geiger sued in April. She said the city and White Buffalo conspired unlawfully to silence her and deprive her of her right to free speech.
The alleged conspiracy culminated in her arrest by Solon police in January 2006. She was charged with menacing by stalking for allegedly following and threatening White Buffalo President Anthony DeNicola.
The criminal case against Geiger was dismissed in April 2007 in Bedford Municipal Court.
The lawsuit was filed in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court but on Oct. 25 was removed to U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio.
Judge Dick Ambrose, who presided over Geiger's suit in county court, said the case was removed because it involved Geiger's rights under the U.S. Constitution.
McClelland added that damage claims must exceed $75,000 to end up in federal court.
Ambrose said it was Geiger's attorney, Todd Raskin, who filed for removal, but McClelland said DeNicola asked for removal and the city agreed.
Page 2 of 2
Raskin and Geiger didn't return calls. DeNicola couldn't be reached Tuesday.
In a Dec. 11 e-mail to the Solon Sun, Geiger did say that the city had filed a "cross claim" seeking to make DeNicola and White Buffalo, not the city, responsible for any violations of her constitutional rights.
McClelland confirmed that the city filed a cross-claim.

It's our position that if anything was done inappropriately, it was DeNicola, not (the city)," McClelland said.
Geiger was convinced that if the court had granted the cross-claim, she would have faced two separate trials -- with the city in federal court, and White Buffalo in county court.
"This would incur not only exorbitant costs but also a large investment of time and effort," Geiger said in her e-mail. She decided to settle.
However, McClelland said that both cases probably would have been heard together in the same court. He said that would have been up to the judge.
Contact Sandrick at (216) 986-5478

Dear Mr. Butterworth,


I am a resident of Ottawa Hills, Ohio.


I am opposed to the granting of any permit to the Village of Ottawa Hills to supposedly "cull the herd" of deer in our Village.


There is no "herd" of deer in the Village of Ottawa Hills.


I see occasional deer in Ottawa Hills all the time, but they do not travel in herds, and there are insufficient number to make up a "herd" even if the deer were inclined to do so, which they are not. The deer I and my friends and associates and family members see in Ottawa Hills appear individually or in a small family groupings and are a threat to no one. They are understandably leery of people and keep their distance. They offer no threat whatsoever.


The people in Ottawa Hills who are complaining of this alleged "problem" are actually the cause of the deer showing an interest in the area. They are the owners of large and expensive gardens growing items which deer love to eat. There is an ordinance in this Village prohibiting people from feeding the deer, but it fails to address the issue because it exempts the people who are growing gardens full of things deers love to eat, and which have thus become somewhat of a magnet for the deer. They could easily solve the"problem" by either simply hanging Irish Spring soap bars in the gardens, which repel the dear, or by re-planting to exclude items the deer love to eat. Instead, they are the supporters of this plan to butcher the deer.


I have read the letter sent to your office by Attorney Terry Lodge dated November 4, 2009 and I concur with each and every one of the objections he raises to the granting of the permit requested by the Village of Ottawa Hills.


In addition, I believe the methods proposed to be used by White Buffalo, Inc., whom the Village of Ottawa Hills proposes to employ for this so-called "cull of the herd" are unlawful, and are in violation of numerous laws of the State of Ohio. The notoriety of this group for cruel and inhumane practices is widely known.


I am attaching a copy of an article entitled: "White Buffalo, Inc. - Animal Abuse, Point Reyes Fallow Deer, Local Horror" and which includes this paragraph regarding their methods:


"White Buffalo will bait deer, trap them in a net, and then kill them with a captive bolt (the same instrument used in slaughterhouses.) A video taken in Illinois shows netted deer wildly struggling to escape. Then a person sits on a deer, another holds her head, and a third fires a 4-inch captive bolt into her brain. While each deer is being wrestled and kills, the others frantically continue to struggle as they watch and hear their companions dying, only to await the same fate."


They are also known to use plastic bags over the heads of the deer to slowly suffocate them after bullets or bolts fail to kill them, and there is a videotape on the internet showing them engaging in this practice.

I am also attaching a copy of an April 2008 article in The New York Times entitled "Don't Blame the Deer"


Respectfully,


Nathan L. Silverman
4243 W Bancroft Street #203W
Ottawa Hills, OH 43615

On another note, Toledo Botanical Gardens is hosting a Deer Resistant Plant presentation this Monday Nov. 9th at 6:00pm, it will be held in the Stables Room at TBG conference center. There will be a presenter that is discussing how to have a deer resistant garden. Here is yet another way to help remedy the situation other than shooting the deer.

Trudy Bond

The killing of deer in Ottawa Hill really does nothing to solve the situation as the adjacent Wildwood Park has a large deer population as does the Boy Scout Camp adjacent to Wildwood. If you kill the deer in Ottawa Hills then migration from the Camp and Park will replace the deer you killed. Set up a feed stations in the Park and Camp if the population get out control move the young deer to Oak Openings other Park in the State. This will give the general population a chance to experience the deer in the wild.

Dave Kasprzak

think the deer culling plan is savage and unnecessary. People want large wooded lots but expect the indigenous fauna to move on??



If they do cull the deer, the meat should be used for an Ottawa Hills Holiday Festival and to feed the children in the Ottawa Hills school system. I’m not sure the poor and hungry are big fans of venison – as everyone seems to assume. It’s a shame to use society’s downtrodden as an excuse to brutalize nature.

Michael Kahle

HI:I would LOVE a yard sign. You know we had a deer problem in our yard for acouple years and someone told us about liquid fence... We have not had aproblem with the deer eating our flowers since... SHOOTING them? WRONG... ILOVE watching them, it is so cool to be in such a natural setting. Anyway, I would love a sign:

Pam Skinner
2247 Innisbrook Road
Ottawa Hills, OH 43606

What the heak is the village thinking?! Are they going to shoot thedogs in the village while the're out there --

Scott Keaffaber
4304 Bonniebrook

This is very very interesting, but not surprising. I have these comments:

1. It is interesting that ODNR recognizes the Ottawa Hills population is free-ranging and concludes correctly that sterilization would not be effective because of that. This is however, exactly the reason why culling will not be effective.

2. Hunting alone has removed 36% of the deer population in the state, which according to their own numbers, has regenerated itself within a year to the same level as before. This figure evidently leaves out deaths due to car accidents and natural causes.

3. ODNR seems to be under the impression that the village has already taken non-lethal steps that haven't proven to be effective. Drafting a management plan for the purpose of this permit doesn't constitute implementing a range of non-lethal steps and scientifically concluding that lethal steps are necessary and will be effective.

Rob Slater
3333 Kirkwall

Thank you.
We back directly up to the meadow on Innisbrook and have a great view.
This summer we saw the same 5 deer on pretty much a daily basis.
They are gone now.
We saw two deer about two weeks ago but nothing lately. (I'm up at 5am)
I can't believe the village has the time, effort, and money to spend on this.
We like seeing the deer.
The Pritchard's
2242 Innisbrook Rd.
2212 Orchard Rd.

In todays Blade article they estimate the cost to cull the deer at $25,000 to $30,000. Put that money into a fund to pay for property damage. That would buy a lot of hostas!

Mike Jacob
4130 Brookside

We have lived in the Village for a total 26 years, having moved a couple of times out state but ultimately returning. The past 16 years we have resided on Talmadge Road backing up to Saint Ursula's heavily wooded property, and we have been treated to routine visits by the deer. Bucks, does, and fawns. Each sighting is a treat and numbers among the many reasons we selected Ottawa Hills as our home. While it is true that the deer have consumed some foliage, it is trifling and insignificant.

More importantly, over the past 16 years, I have yet to witness, or view the aftermath of a deer/auto collision on Talmadge. I would like to say it is because motorists strictly observe the speed limit of 25 mph, but sadly, that is not the case. Deer do cross Talmadge, typically moving from east to west, and frankly, I am more concerned about my two dogs crossing Talmadge than the deer which are much more cautious than my dogs.

I am deeply opposed to this ill-conceived deer culling plan that has been cooked up as a knee jerk reaction to a few squeaky wheels. I do not believe that we have a "glut" of deer in Ottawa Hills and until someone is able to prove that we have an out of control deer population in the village, I will not be moved.

Across the country there are truly problems in some communities which have 200 to 300 deer per square mile and have engaged in culling operations to trim these herds down to 50 deer, or less, per square mile. I understand that white tail and mule deer populations of 25 to 50 deer per square mile are sustainable with no untoward affect to the ecosystem. Ottawa Hills covers an area of 2 square miles (1.9) to be precise, which can support 100 deer, if you believe the experts. No one has shown me that 100 deer are camped out in Ottawa Hills, maybe in Wildwood Metropark, but not here.

So, before we go off half-cocked, with little factual information, and put a bunch of cowboys in the trees killing the deer for a mere $25,000 to $30,000, let's be certain that we have done our homework as well as considering alternatives.

I do not believe that we have.

Sincerely,

Jim Rutledge
2648 Talmadge Rd

we are glad you are making the effort to stop this nutty notion of hunting and killing deer in Ottawa Hills.
We would appreciate receiving one of your yard signs.

Thank you!

Margot and Erhard Kock
2459 Manchester Blvd.
Ottawa Hills, Ohio 43606

We are opposed to harming any animals, including the deer. The village should be more concerned about the deteriorating shape of many lawns and houses in the village and the removal of dead trees on personal properties, not to mention the mole infestation. Please leave us a sign to place in our yard. Thank you very much.

Dick & Marlene Phalin
4454 Indian Rd.
43615

I do not want to waste my tax dollars on this program. We have lived on the meadow/flood plain for 23 years and have never had a problem with deer.

JAMES KING
3867 SULPHUR SPRING ROAD
OTTAWA HILLS OHIO 43606

First, I want to thank you for presenting information about the deer culling in the village. I do not support the proposed action. Rather, I think villagers should focus on developing a plan that is respectful to all its inhabitants, including the deer. I would appreciate the opportunity to place two signs on my property. Please advise me as to how I might do so.
Thanks
Colleen Mandell
2652 Falmouth Road

We would like to put up two yard signs. One in front of our home and one to the back on Exmoor. The idea of sharpshooters in the village is scary. We have three children. WeI would not want any child accidentally harmed in any way either by a stray bullet or by the trauma of witnessing a deer being shot. We like seeing the deer in our neighborhood. It makes us feel in touch with nature. Please let us know where we too can get signs to post.


Jim & Maria Burmeister
3001 Secretariat Road

DeNicola describes his preparatory methods in an article he co-authored:

"We selected bait sites throughout the area of operation before beginning sharpshooting efforts in order to maximize the efficiency and safety of removal efforts. We would attempt to have a minimum of 2 bait sites per km2. Whole kernel corn was placed on the ground 3 weeks in advance of shooting efforts at select shooting locations. We would place approximately 0.5 to 1 kg of corn per deer daily at each site. Sharpshooting sites were accessed from a vehicle or from a tree stand, during the daytime and after dark."

Trudy Bond

I am vehemently against this deer kill. I cringe to think how unconscionable and outrageous this is.what will be next ? Rabbits, woodchucks? There are plantings the deer do not eat also stop feeding them. Maybe you all will not be happy till all signs of wildlife are gone. These deer not only are in ottawa hills, but travel along many acres along the ottawa river, they are beautiful creatures to see,you should all feel so fortunate to live in an urban area to see this wildlife. What a sad excuse to kill and to get horrific gunslingers to do this dirty work! Consider moving to the inner city to do your plantings, and never have to see another deer.

Phyllis G. Bernstein
3555 Hill River Drive

its not to often you can enjoy your breakfast,lunch,and dinner and have a group of these fine gods creatures pass your bay window... pause...look into your eyes...and move on..........it will be a shame to destroy the luxury we are lucky to have.

-Anonymous

If you saw a LARGE deer walking down the walkway that would tell me its not starving i'm sure this berry, grass, bark eating animal is really not interested in the child but maybe a nice grass or tree....ur an idiot

-Anonymous

Thank you for all that you are doing to protect these beautifulcreatures. We do not see them often, but it makes our day, when we do!

Susan Sullivan
3458 Brantford

I would love to display yard signs - I live on the corner of Secor and Gallatin which will offer a lot due to the amount of traffic - in and outside of the village.

my address is 3303 Gallatin Road - If you have large signs I would post those also. Please let me know if you need me to pick up - I am only available on weekends and evenings to do so.
Thank you for your initiative - I do not believe this is a wise endeavor. Bullets kill more than animals!

Deb Piotrowski
3303 Gallatin

Subject: DRAFT Deer Management Program
> Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:28:37 -0500
> From: walinski@CooperWalinski.com
> To: Thompsonm@ottawahills.org
> CC: kgilmore@gjmltd.com; jeffrey.a.gibbs@gsk.com; rfr1@bex.net; jstraub@slk-law.com; wgetco@sbcglobal.net; haydenj@ottawahills.org; smchugh@mmklaw.net; villagedeer@hotmail.com; n.silverman@sev.org
>
> Mr. Thompson:
>
> I read your letter to Village residents regarding the issue of deer-management. I have followed the debate so far only enough to know that some who oppose the plan to kill deer believe there are more conservative ways to deal with the problem, if indeed one truly exists.
>
> Reading your letter and the enclosure, I was surprised to learn that the Village finds itself forced to kill deer because "deer capture and release are not permitted in Ohio." It struck me as odd that the only recourse Ohio law gives a municipality for abating nuisance animals is to kill them. As it turns out, the Village's reading of Ohio law is not only odd, it's apparently wrong. Regulations promulgated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources seem to state exactly the opposite.
>
> According to the Ohio Administrative Code, Ohio permits capture and release of white-tailed deer if the population has become a nuisance. It issues permits for trapping deer just as it does for killing them; it doesn't compel one or the other. In fact, both remedies for dealing with nuisance deer are approved under the same state regulation.
>
> Ohio Administrative Code § 1501:31-15-03 states:
> . . .
> (C) Nuisance white-tailed . . . :
> (1) White-tailed deer . . . ., which are causing damage or have become a nuisance may be captured or killed by licensed nuisance wild animal trappers or other persons, only after such trappers or other persons have received written permission from the chief of the division of wildlife or his designee.
>
> Anyone wanting to capture or kill white-tailed deer that have become nuisances need only obtain written permission. It's the same licensing process for both killing and capturing because, once licensed, a person may "take [i.e., which is defined in Ohio Admin. Code § as1501:31-1-02 (G) as"kill"], trap or capture white-tailed deer." The only restriction on the release of trapped or captured deer is where they may be set free. The deer must be released "outside the limits of any incorporated village or city. Animals shall not be released on public or private property without the permission of the landowner." Those provisions of the Ohio Administrative Code do not to me suggest that "deer capture and release are not permitted in Ohio."
>
> I am not concerned with whether the misstatement about the legal options apparently available to the Village was accidental or whether it was calculated to quell opposition to the Village's plan. What matters to me is that the Village's misreading of Ohio law apparently kept it from considering whether to hire experts to capture and release rather than simply kill. That's enough reason for me to have joined those who oppose the Village's Draft Deer Management Plan.
>
> Richard S. Walinski
> Cooper & Walinski
> 900 Adams Street
> Toledo, OH 43604
> Phone: 419-241-1200
> Fax: 419-720-3442
> Walinski@CooperWalinski.com

11/16/2009


Marc Thompson
and
Ottawa Hills Village Council
Village of Ottawa Hills
2125 Richards Road
Ottawa Hills, Ohio 43606

To the above:

The intent of this letter is to express my opposition to the proposed deer “culling” specifically in light of the forthcoming vote on the law banning hunting in the Village. My opposition is based on four criteria: 1) research which indicates that culling programs do not achieve the stated goals; 2) the abysmal reputation of White Buffalo, Inc., which has been indicated as the probable company to be hired for the culling; 3) annual costs to maintain any perceived reduction in the deer population as a result of the previously-stated fact; and 4) the questionable need for removing deer by killing them.

Deer Culling Programs
As Rob Slater and Tim Messer-Kruse stated in their letter to the editors of the Village Voice, deer culling does not work, primarily due to the Compensatory Rebound Effect. The following studies support this statement:

“Mean number of fetuses per pregnant doe was greater on hunted land … than on nonhunted sites… Incidence of twinning [doe producing twins] was 38% on hunted sites and 14% on nonhunted sites. No twinning was observed among pregnant fawns or yearlings from nonhunted areas, whereas 6 of 33 (18%) of the pregnant yearlings and 1 of 3 (33%) pregnant fawns from hunted areas carried twins.” Richter, A. R., and R. F. Labisky. “Reproductive Dynamics Among Disjunct White-Tailed Deer Herds in Florida.” J. Wildl. Manage. 49(4):964-971 (1985)
“Hunting mortality is believed to be largely compensatory partly because it takes place before the harsh winter period, when most natural deer deaths occur. Because hunting keeps deer density below maximum, the deer surviving a hunt have more food (better habitat) and come through the winter in better condition than those in unhunted herds.” Robert L. Downing, wildlife biologist, publisher of over 25 scientific papers on deer, in “Restoring America’s Wildlife: 1937-1987” (54). United States Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service.
In its 1990 report, ‘An Assessment of Deer Hunting in New Jersey,’ New Jersey Fish and Game… show[ed] that even during hunting seasons in which killing female deer was the objective (antlerless seasons), the remaining females had increased birthrates that not only replaced the ones killed, but increased the overall size of the herd.” “Wildlife Fertility Control: Frequently Asked Questions on Immunocontraception.” PNC, Inc. http://www.pzpinfo.org/pzp_faqs.html (last accessed November 2009)
“By keeping the deer population below the carrying capacity of the available habitat, more forage (nutrition) is available per deer. Thus, does are healthier, reproductive success is higher and more does are able to carry two fawns. Ironically, this can result in a greater deer harvest each year. Depending on the relationship of the population and the carrying capacity, an ‘optimum sustained yield’ can be achieved where a relatively high reproductive rate allows an abundant harvest each fall. With high-quality habitat and increased nutrition, the percentage of doe fawns that breed their first fall increases (sometimes up to 25 percent). Also, a higher percentage of yearling does produce two fawns instead of one. Because fawns are born at approximately a 1:1 sex ratio, more bucks may be born each year. Therefore, in some areas, you actually can increase the number of bucks born by shooting more does.” “Quality Deer Management: Guidelines for Implementation,” 6. Agricultural Extension Service, The University of Tennessee. http://www.utextension.utk.edu/publications/pbfiles/pb1643.pdf (last accessed November 2009)
“Population models show that about 30 percent of a healthy deer population - including does - can be harvested each year without reducing the next year’s population.” Dr. Tony J. Peterle, former Professor of Zoology at Ohio State University and former Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Wildlife Management, in “Restoring America’s Wildlife: 1937-1987”(62). United States Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service.
In reference to the statement that the number of deer presents a health hazard, such a statement generally refers to Lyme disease. Deer culling will have no effect on Lyme disease for several reasons. First, the Lyme disease-causing tick (Ixodes scapularis) is a multi-host disease. It is carried by over 40 bird species and all mammals. Mice and small rodents are primary hosts for the immature stages of the tick, which are the most infectious to people. Songbirds even play a role in bringing ticks to new areas. You can't stop a multi-host disease by killing some members of one host.
Second, deer do not support tick-borne pathogen transmission. In other words, they do not carry Lyme disease. They are dilution hosts. In some cases, localized absence of deer increases tick feeding on rodents, leading to a potential increased incidence of Lyme disease. This means that we could totally exterminate the deer and we would still have Lyme disease, perhaps with even higher rates. (Sources: Localized Deer Absence Leads to Tick Amplification, Ecology, 87(8), 2006, pp. 1981–1986, by S. Perkins, I. Cattadori, V. Tagliapietra, A. Rizzoli, and P. Hudson.)
And finally, a study in New Jersey confirms that deer culls are ineffective at reducing Lyme disease, finding that after three seasons of deer culling, there was no apparent reduction in tick populations or Lyme disease rates. ("Effects of Sustained Reduction of White-tailed Deer on the Abundance of Ixodes scapularis [Acari:Ixodidae] in an Endemic Lyme Disease ares in New Jersey," Roberto A. Jordan, Terry L. Schultze, and Margaret B. Jahn, Freehold Area Health Department, Journal of Medical Entomology, 44[5]: 752Ð757 [2007]).
The data on deer-vehicle collisions (DVC) as it pertains to Ottawa Hills is underwhelming. DeNicola has written, “Our experience is that elevated numbers of DVCs are often the only conflict that local politicians feel comfortable using to justify the authorization of lethal deer management options.” If that is true, the case for the authorization of lethal deer management in Ottawa Hills is highly questionable.
White Buffalo, Inc.
The reputation of Anthony DeNicola and his 501 (c)(3) nonprofit company, White Buffalo, Inc., precedes them. Though he has a professional-looking website, his manner is less than that. As quoted in USA Today, when it comes to killing deer, “For me, it's like brushing my teeth." (http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2005-12-19-deer-hunting-edit_x.htm) DeNicola has found a way to operate a nonprofit company, is paid up to $400 for each deer his company kills, and has received over $1,200,000 in research funds since 2000, according to his resume. In addition, written into the contract will be a clause stating that any time spent on legal matters will be reimbursed by the municipality, and indeed, White Buffalo has recently settled two lawsuits.
White Buffalo also uses methods that constitute animal cruelty. Even with sharp-shooters, a bullet does not always kill. In some less open spaces, White Buffalo opts for the "capture-and-kill" method, in which baited deer are trapped in nets and killed with a metal bolt administered at point blank range to the head. Though Council may state that method will not be used in the Village, I would still offer that the Village is contracting with a firm that utilizes forms of animal cruelty.
White Buffalo will bring in animal-rights activists from all over the country, as their methods of “culling” deer are well-known. There is no easy way to make the killing of deer a pretty picture, but the choice of White Buffalo suggests a lack of information by the Council. What happens when someone is injured or killed?
Repeated Kills
DeNicola made this argument easy for me when he spoke to this question directly in his interview with Tom Henry. “Mr. DeNicola said he doesn't want to mislead anyone into thinking culls are a one-time deal. He likened deer management to mowing lawns - that is, it requires regular maintenance. ‘If somebody's thinking one year, I'll tell them not to waste my time,’ Mr. DeNicola said.” Not only does this indicate that the $30,000 which Council is proposing for this year’s kills will not be the final cost, such statements also reinforce the data that deer culling does not solve any problems. Solon is now in their fifth year of hiring White Buffalo, contracting for $500,000 the first year and over $100,000 each year afterward.

Unnecessary Killing
I am obviously not an expert in wildlife management. With my limited knowledge, however, I have found other solutions to minimize deer populations in my meager research. What seems obvious is that the open migration from the Metroparks must first be addressed.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,

Trudy Bond
2212 Innisbrook

Please put as many signs in front of my house. The deer in the Blade was crossing to come into my yard where they are welcome. I replanted bushes when I built the house to support the deer and my yard. Luckily I have some apple trees.

Joan Bayer
2704 Underhill

I am opposed to killing the deer. Surely, Ottawa Hills has better things to do with its time and money than engaging in this type of travesty.

Janet Robinson
3039 Pembroke Road
Ottawa Hills, OH 43606

Marc,

The FAQs flier sent to all villagers states, "Compensatory rebound effect occurs when the population of the deer herd is reduced and the remaining deer become more prolific by having more offspring. This occurs when the deer herd is not healthy due to insufficient food. The herd in the Village is healthy and not suffering from a lack of food, so the experts feel it is unlikely to occur after deer culling."

What is the source of the above information which connects CRE to the health of the herd?

Thank you,
Trudy Bond

-----Original Message-----
From: lane <lane@lohv.org>
To: nbeisen@aol.com
Sent: Mon, Nov 16, 2009 11:43 pm
Subject: Re: Ottawa Hills Deer Cull


Hi Michael,

By now you saw that I was interviewed by Tom Henry for Sunday's article. I was a bit disappointed that the didn't use a lot of information I gave him but the article on the whole was very good and I was happy. I spoke to Steve Hindi last night and he too was happy. Tom did a great job.

It sounds as though there is quite a bit of opposition and I am going to continue to hold my breath. I'm trying to get the dollar amount spent so far in Solon for Trudy Bond. It is over one million by now for sure but I don't have the breakdown.

I hope that no one will give up. To give you some encouragement our friends in our deer network in Rochester Hills MI stopped the killing from continuing after last years horrific slaughter. What it took was many residents marching down to each council meeting and making their voices heard loudly. I was able to watch online and it was very impressive. At one point I was standing on my chair cheering. My friend took video the morning after the kill. It clearly showed the blood trail of a poor deer that was shot. Clearly that deer suffered and was not killed immediately. Another woman was driving home when she saw a wounded deer in the road. She stopped, a man in a truck pulled up, stopped, told her to turn her head, and slit the doe's throat. It was not the infamous DeNicola but still.

Thanks for staying in touch. I would love to come and speak at your next council meeting but I have to work. I see the council will vote on this Nov.23. I'm wondering if I wrote something if someone could read it at the council meeting.

Terry Lodge and I are working on an Op-ed piece that exposes all the corruption that went on in Solon. The O.H. administration needs to be very aware that Solon is about to sign another 5 yr. contract which will bring it to ten years total and more good money thrown after bad. We are now on the way to TWO million. And in these economical times too.

Lane
Lane Ferrante
Director, League of Humane Voters
Ohio chapter
(216) 759-6116
lane@lohvoh.org

Glad to see signs popping up all over the village. I sent an email to the guy who wrote the article in the Blade and asked where he got his info. That the survey found 76 deer within village limits, not 105. I also mentioned that overpopulation was 40 deer per square mile and that, according to the Village Voice OH is 2.5 square miles which equals 100 deer, not 76. He said that Marc Thompson gave him the information.
Good letter in the Blade about making certain plants illegal to use in your garden. I got a kick out of that one.

Christine Vischer

I live on the last lot in Sylvania Township 2838 Hasty Road right next to Ottawa Hills and herds of deer pass through my property and cross Hasty Road safely to the railroad tracks on their way back to Wildwood Park. Please put signs up in both directions on my lot with my Blessing.

Thank you so much!
Gerald B Strasbourg
2838 Hasty Road

Thank you for placing the sign in our yard. Do you know just how many complaints they've had? A majority of villagers? It is just plain nuts to pay to have deer culled.

There's a bigger crisis with the mole infestation in our area & we've complained about it & nothing gets done.

Dick & Marlene Phalin

I would like to suggest having multiple controlled hunts using no firearms just bow within the village. This is a safer way to hunt in close quarters to the residence of Ottawa Hills. I'm an avid hunter and understand people not wanting the deer slain. I can speak for all hunters that we use deer meat to feed are families, specially in these hard times my family depends on me getting at least two deer a year. I feel this would be the most sensible and humane way to lower the population down. This way you are killing two birds with one stone. Your feeding people and their families and lowering the population. Also getting the metro park to have the same style hunts would be great for the residents. The Metro park is the reason for all the deer in Ottawa Hills. Any comments please email me back.

Thanks
Dan Buel

Mr. Butterworth,
I am opposed to the deer culling in Ottawa Hills. I do not believe that significant efforts have been made to deter deer through plantings of deer deterring shrubbery, use of motion sprinklers, etc.

I am opposed to the discharge of high powered weapons in areas as densely populated, as Ottawa Hills. This is a community with children, dogs, and many walkers, and with houses closely spaced. I believe that discharge of these weapons places our families in danger.

Thank you for your consideration of my concerns,

Katherine Petersen

From: Katherine Petersen
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:40:18 -0500
Subject: deer
To: thompsonm@ottawahills.org; haydenj@ottawahills.org
CC: scott.butterworth@dnr.state.oh.us; villagedeer@hotmail.com

11/16/09

Ottawa Hills Village Counsel, et.al.


I support the stance and arguments of the Village Deer No Hunting Committee. I have listed some of my concerns. I have signed the petition against deer culling, and have written to the DNR, to voice my opposition to the deer culling.

Animal populations wax and wane with the availability of food sources. The more deer-deterrent food sources and deterrent devices (motion lawn sprinklers, whistles, popping balloons, or shooting them with Super Soaker water pumps) are used, the more they are encouraged to move on, versus move-in. If it is unpleasant, they will leave. Have residents and council encouraged deer resistant plantings? For instance, regarding the spring trees that were planted in the East Meadow flood plain—was consideration given to planting deer resistant varieties? Or are these just more enticement to the deer to move in and produce young? These deer range from south of the University through Wildwood Metro Park and into Sylvania. They are often just passing through, as part of their natural range. They are not “ours” to eliminate. There have been deer in Wildwood since it became a park, and before. Deer are one of the charms of the metro parks, and one of the reasons that Lucas County residents support the parks. OH has no right to step in and eliminate them. For that matter, I do not believe that Village Council has any right to determine which animals are allowed to live in OH, and which are not. We have learned to co-exist with squirrels and raccoons, which are just as destructive as deer, or more so. (Have you ever had a raccoon in your chimney or attic?) We have learned how to use deterrents for these animals.

In addition to setting aside the “No Hunting” law, is council also setting aside the “No Feeding (baiting)” law, as well as laws against discharge of weapons?

And where is the money coming from to hire the Bounty Hunters? From Village Services? Like the leaf collection????

Has Village Council already made the decision to proceed with the hunt? What consideration has been given to the opinions of other Lucas County residents and Metro Park supporters, who also have a vested interest in these animals, and who have, themselves, chosen to live responsibly with nature? I do not agree that the majority of residents are in favor of the hunt, but that most believe that Council has already made up their minds, and are not open to dissenting opinions.

I agree with The Blade Readers Forum contributor who said that people who choose to live in areas that are attractive to nature, and are in natural habitat areas, need to learn to co-exist with nature and nature’s flora AND FAUNA.



Katherine Petersen

Yes, we are proudly displaying our sign! See you at the meeting! With the huge ground swell of anti-hunting sentiment, I just don't see how village council could ignore the vast majority of citizens who are so vehemently against the deer kill! Or am I just naive? I am hopeful cooler, rational heads will prevail and this nonsense will be over after Nov. 23. Let's hope so!

Julie Vitale

I am interested in displaying a sign in my yard. I’d be happy to pick it up myself if that would be helpful.

Thanks to Tim and Rob for taking the initiative to get the petition, signs and website going.

Susan Bourey
3626 Brookside Road

One of the great pleasures in my life is when I see deer just walking or running along in a wooded area. The greatest of these were on two occasions when visiting relatives and seeing some deer in their back yard from their house. I envy them for having the opportunity to see them more often. Both live next to a wooded area like in Ottawa Hills.



There are many deer along the river in Maumee and Perrysburg as well and we periodically will take a drive hoping to see some. Many times we do. Oh! We also know to drive slower and with extra care as some deer may suddenly pop out of the woods.



Those in Ottawa Hills that are thinking about killing these harmless deer should be ashamed of themselves. Being able to see deer in your back or front yard from your house should be one of those simple pleasures of life that cannot be replaced.



Ron Meyer

From: mlpxxxx@sbcglobal.net
To: villagedeer@hotmail.com
Subject: Emailing: Deer culling letter to Marc Thompson, 11-23-09.eml
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:58:44 -0500


Attached please find a copy of the email regarding our opposition to the deer cull in Ottawa Hills which my husband and I sent to Marc Thopmson today. We have also signed the opposition petition and hope to attend the council meeting this evening.

Marjory Wilkin mlpxxxx@sbcglobal.net
3829 Indian Road
The message is ready to be sent with the following file or link attachments:
Deer culling letter to Marc Thompson, 11-23-09.eml

Note: To protect against computer viruses, e-mail programs may prevent sending or receiving certain types of file attachments. Check your e-mail security settings to determine how attachments are handled.

--Forwarded Message Attachment--
From: mlpwxxx@sbcglobal.net
To: thompsonm@ottawahills.org
Subject: Deer cull
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:30:07 -0500


Dear Marc----

We are strictly opposed to the proposed culling of deer in Ottawa Hills. Doubts concerning the methods used by the professional company are certainly a significant issue. This has been verified by the reactions of residents in other areas where the company has been used.

Furthermore, and even setting the culling methods aside, we do not believe deer culling will substantially help the problem some residents have with the deer in the village. It would only create ongoing, unnecessary and futile expenses. Despite information provided to the contrary, we all know that deer do cross Central Ave. from Wildwood Metropark and other surrounding areas. Nothing in this proposed cull would stop that from happening. Most likely the deer crossings would increase were more space per deer made available to them in our village.

It seems that many of those in favor of this culling are concerned for their decorative gardens. The Lucas County Extension Service on Bancroft Street, home of the Ohio Master Gardeners in this area (of which Marjory is one) have lists of decorative plants and other vegetation which is resistant to deer foraging. We would be happy to provide these lists to you for the residents concerned about their gardens. Erecting a nearly invisible 10-foot fence, electrified or not, around gardens in wooded backyards is another method of restraining deer.

In order to live in a beautiful wooded area such as Ottawa Hills, we all have to make adjustments to retain this ambience. Residents with affected gardens can certainly adjust their choices of plant material to dissuade the deer from eating their plantings. We ask that you do not proceed with the proposed culling of deer in our Village.

Sincerely yours,

Lloyd and Marjory Wilkin
3829 Indian Road

To Village Manager Thompson, Mayor Gilmore, and Village Council Members:

I write to express my disappointment after attending tonight's meeting. The origin of my frustration comes from the process I witnessed, not simply from the outcome of the Council vote on the deer issue. For more than 2 1/4 hours I listened to countless people including some living outside of our community, ventilate their personal feelings about this emotional issue. Unfortunately, I did not hear many meaningful statistics to support or oppose this idea either from the body of constituents present or the Village Council members. This was not a debate nor a discussion; especially when specific questions presented to the governing body to help clarify the situation at hand were ignored. Furthermore, I do not feel this was an exercise in meaningful listening. Instead, it appears to have been an example of allowing people to participate in the "process of democracy" and then taking a vote based on a predetermined opinion.

I heard Councilman Straub state that of the "60 people who spoke-24" were in favor of the proposed culling. Obviously, even in this small sample, the majority were opposed. Perhaps a roll call of sorts from those attending, as was suggested by one of the speakers, could have given the elected officials a more accurate representation of the Village residents' sentiments.

The most disturbing part of this evening was that after more than 2 1/2 hours of meeting, if the Council members truly came to listen to their constituents, then how could they make this decision without answering the questions and allowing for true debate and interactive discussion. We could have all been saved an evening of time by simply taking this vote before the cameras appeared and the people spoke.

I have been involved in countless projects and support groups in this community during the 16 years we have lived here. Too many times I feel these key issues are decided by the minority rather than reflecting the wishes of the majority. For such a small community, we live in a very politically controlled environment. For these reasons, perhaps now that our children have completed their education here, it is time to consider moving on into another neighborhood.

In closing, I found it interesting to read in the Village website at ottawahills.org, under the tab of "Visitors Welcome", in the second paragraph boasting as an attraction among others-"abundant wildlife". After tonight's vote, the next agenda item should be to revise the language of this website.

Jim Vitale
3928 Brookside Rd

Dear Village Deer,
Would it be possible to get a couple of signs? We live at 2915 Pembroke Rd. I also have a neighbor across the street who would like one as well.
We could not attend the meeting last night & knew from the news that the meeting didn't result in the outcome we would have liked.
We have also lost plants to the deer. To us, eaten plants do not equate to a deer loosing its life for the destruction of our hostas.
I have attached a great story about a preemie deer saved by caring vets. Maybe the use of this could make an impact on the residents. Our planet is on the path that it is due to the "what about me" attitude that seems to be part of so many peoples' mind set today. I guess I thought better of our residents!

Thanks for all you are doing. If I need to come & pick up the signs, please let me know & I will make arrangements. Have you ever thought about taking this to the population in Toledo? It may have an impact public relations wise.


Sincerely,
Jane Cairl
2915 Pembroke

A Parody with Apologies to Rev. Martin Niemoller


First they came to the village for the snorting deer, and I did not speak out—because I was not a deer;
Then they came for the squawking squirrels, and I did not speak out—because I was not a squirrel;
Then they came for the ravenous rabbits, and I did not speak out—because I was not a rabbit;
Then they came for the tunneling chipmunks, and I did not speak out—because I was not a chipmunk;
Then they came for the cacophonous birds, and I did not speak out—because I was not a bird;
Then they came for the allergenic bees, and I did not speak out—because I was not a bee;
Now the land opportunists are coming after me, in this ecologic dead zone, because the village’s residential desirability has plummeted and my property value is tanking.

Bob Dvorak

November 25, 2009

Editors of Village Voice of Ottawa Hills
4041 W. Central Avenue
Ottawa Hills, Ohio 43606

Gentlemen:

Because a number of Villagers have been writing letters to the Village Administrator and members of Council following our recent meeting on Monday evening, I feel it appropriate to respond to certain comments that have been made.
To begin with, a few of the writers have indicated that they were “disappointed” and/or “frustrated” because they believed that members of Council did not provide any “meaningful statistics to support or oppose” the supposed “concerns” that were generated by the people in attendance at the meeting.
The comments of the people who have written letters seem to suggest that we only provided “the appearance of democracy” and did not in fact genuinely pay attention to the comments of the community.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
While I cannot speak for other members of Council, I maintained detailed notes of each and every speaker out of the 60 I counted on Monday night. I believe I understood what every speaker said. While some of the speakers (on both sides of the issue) made comments that I personally believed to be wholly irrelevant (if they are really that concerned about the State of Ohio providing us with the right to cull a mere 50 deer of our herd, why are they not concerned about the 250,000 deer that will be shot in the State of Ohio and the 500,000+ deer that will be shot in the State of Michigan this very month?), I felt it appropriate to attempt to address the substantive issues that had been presented.
Frankly, the opponents on this issue have, as I believe some of them readily admit, only an “emotional” issue with the proposed cull. Furthermore, many of them speak of us “eliminating” the deer population, which we have no intention of doing. If someone has an emotional response to our concern as Councilmen with the welfare and safety of our populace, while I understand and can appreciate that concern, that is not something that I, as an elected representative attempting to provide good governance, believe to be an appropriate community response. For every person I heard last Monday who had an emotional response opposing the cull, I heard other statements from people who had a similar emotional response advocating the cull. I do not believe that public officials should base their decisions on emotion.
Certain writers have suggested that we do not have “statistics” to support our decision. I would concur. However, we do have facts, we do have reports from numerous members of the community, and we do have specific descriptions of confrontations between humans and deer. We have specific reports of accidents involving motor vehicles. Monday night, we heard reports of at least two cases of Lyme Disease in or around the Village, despite the prior information we received that the DNR does not believe Ohio deer transmit that disease because of the soil conditions in Northwest Ohio. Perhaps the DNR is as wrong on that issue as many of the opponents believe they are on the issue of deer overpopulation.
I did not hear any of the opponents refer to any of the facts set forth in the mailings from the Village to the community or, for that matter, in the extremely well-written and well-reasoned newspaper article by Steve Pollick on Sunday, November 22, 2009. Rather, all I heard from the opponents were statements to the effect that we were “acting in too much haste” and that we “had not studied the issue thoroughly.”
In fact, the committee which was headed by Jim Walter, of which I was not a member, studied this problem for more than a year. It gathered research and information, much of which was supplied by either the Nature Conservancy or the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The information was specific and precise. It has been furnished to the community through mailings and referenced by Mr. Walter in his comments at every meeting that I have attended, including on Monday night.
Rather than the responses that we continue to receive from disgruntled Villagers (we are accused of failing to answer “any of the plethora of questions” that presumably have been posed to us, but I believe that all of those questions have been answered thoroughly), those who are upset with our vote now tell us we have failed to respond to emotional arguments that deer are “beautiful animals” which should not be “harmed.” I attempted to suggest in my comments that we may be “harming” the deer in a much more significant manner if we fail to take action and find that we have a herd that is starving to death in the dead of winter. That is what the Ohio DNR and our research has told us.
I continue to believe that we, as public officials, are charged with preserving and securing public safety and the well-being of our citizens. While I truly feel badly that some people see this as an emotional issue, I do not understand why those same people are not directing their attention at the annual wholesale killing of deer by thousands of amateur hunters and meat processing plants which regularly slaughter millions of cows, pigs, chickens and turkeys, and why they cannot grasp the notion that the deer herd that will remain after we proceed with the cull will be more vibrant and healthy than it would otherwise be.
The last issue has to do with the expense involved. While I am not particularly enthusiastic about spending $30,000 to maintain a healthy deer herd in numbers that will, hopefully, provide a reduced threat to the safety of our community, neither was I rejoicing when I realized it cost the Village approximately $850,000 to pave Orchard Road last summer. While that road was paved very nicely and looks wonderful to those who drive to their homes in that direction, the remainder of the Village could certainly question the cost per yard of that particular paving project. A mere $30,000 to allow us to take action which even many of the opponents suggest should be taken by all area municipalities seems like a relative pittance in comparison.
I believe democracy worked and I believe that the proper rationale was applied by the four members of Council who have voted to amend the hunting ordinance.
I would also remind all who oppose this action that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources has authorized the Village to proceed. I am assuming that our emotional opponents do not believe that the DNR knows what it is doing, either.
Very truly yours,



John L. Straub

To: villagedeer@hotmail.com
Subject: Response to Jack Straub
Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:44:40 -0500
From: nbeisen@aol.com

Dear Jack,

In your letter to village residents, you state that we do not have statistics but do have facts. Pardon my confusion, but what are the facts based on if not statistics?
I came to the September 14th council meeting open minded and hoping to receive answers to a few basic questions. A short call to Lucas County Board of Health answered the Lyme disease issue: 2008-3 cases and 2009 year to date-0 cases. These were not ODNR figures but Lucas County Health Department statistics.
After listening to Jim Walters expounding on how thoroughly this issue had been studied, I asked three very basic questions in order to better understand if this was an increasing, stable or decreasing problem. The time line I chose was similar to the time line that I have applied for 31 years in my business; I requested statistics for 2007,2008 and 2009 to date. I framed these questions so that they would correspond to the language used by council: 1) Number of Deer/Vehicle Accidents; 2) Number of Ottawa Hills Police Reports of Deer/Human Confrontation; 3) Verifiable,invoiced, dollar figures for damage done to landscape.
As you are aware, council had no figure for Deer/Vehicle accidents as of September 14th. Despite submitting "facts" to ODNR for your Deer Damage Control Permit that accidents between deer and vehicles had been increasing, you did not even have a number. On September 15th, when Marc Thompson finally came up with the statistics, no increase was shown and only a couple of accidents were within the confines of the village. The vast majority were on Central Avenue by Wildwood. Central might be considered a gray area as to ownership of these accidents.
As for Deer/Human Confrontations, where are the statistics? It has been over two months since my initial request.
Verifiable,invoiced, damage to landscape statistics for the time frame referenced above, where are they?
Jack, how can you measure success or failure of a program without a baseline?
Regarding the starving deer. If you had attended the October 28th Services and Environtment Committe Meeting, you would have heard Cindy Redmond pose this very issue. To clarrify Cindy's statement, I asked Scott Butterworth if deer in Lucas County were starving. Scott replied,"They are quite robust".
Proponents of the deer cull stated over and over again at Monday's meeting that we know we have a deer problem and that the deer are increasing at an alarming level. ODNR indicates that through their stewardship, the deer population has remained stable. How do you know that we have a deer problem if you cannot furnish statistics to verify your claim?
By way of this response, I am asking that you finally respond to the statistic request previously solicited.
As for non-lethal remedies, ODNR Publication 138 states:
Fences,if constructed properly,can provide nearly 100% control.
Jack, why don't we try non-lethal,responsible methods first? The Chief of ODNR,David Graham, referenced "Ottawa Hills having taken correct steps to date using non-lethal methods". Other than banning feeding, please tell me what these are.
As for your reference to the Blade Outdoor Columnist,Pollick, he reminds me of my deceased Mother. It might be a beautiful, sunny day at the time but my Mother would let me know that bad weather must be on its way. Pollick's proposal to use "death squads" to save the deer from old age smacks of the very, big government, health plan that so many decry. To take him seriously, I would have to believe facts not based on statistics. I do not know how to do that.

Eagerly awaiting your reply;as well as, the replies of council, Mayor Gilmore and Marc Thompson.

Michael Eisenstodt

November 26, 2009
Editors of Village Voice of Ottawa Hills
4041 W. Central Avenue
Ottawa Hills, Ohio 43606
and
Members of Village Council
and
Marc Thompson:
Dear Mr. Straub:

I am responding to the letter you wrote to the editors of the Village Voice and posted on the
website opposing the proposed deer cull in Ottawa Hills. Most of what I have to say is
repetitious: I have provided the majority of the documentation to the Council in a lengthy letter,
in emails to Marc Thompson which are documented and in my statement before Village Council
on November 23, 2009. However, it appears from your letter you did not receive any of those
communications. Therefore, I am writing to correct your inaccuracies.
You wrote, “While I cannot speak for other members of Council, I maintained detailed notes of
each and every speaker out of the 60 I counted on Monday night. I believe I understood what
every speaker said . . . I did not hear any of the opponents refer to any of the facts set forth in the
mailings from the Village to the community.”

Obviously, Mr. Straub, you did not listen to or make notes on my comments at the Council
meeting. I read a statement directly from the circular that the Village provided, a statement that I
believe to be misleading and incorrect, a statement for which I had asked for some verification
from Mr. Thompson and he could give me none. I take issue with the Village providing
inaccurate information. The statement I read from the circular was: "Compensatory rebound
effect occurs when the population of the deer herd is reduced and the remaining deer become
more prolific by having more offspring.  This occurs when the deer herd is not healthy due to
insufficient food.  The herd in the Village is healthy and not suffering from a lack of food, so the
experts feel it is unlikely to occur after deer culling."

There is no literature or documentation available from the village that supports this statement,
though I have requested such.  Recent scientific literature contradicts the undocumented
statements made in the Village's circular.

Documentation that I sent to Council regarding Compensatory Rebound Effect included the
following: “Population models show that about 30 percent of a healthy deer population -
including does - can be harvested each year without reducing the next year’s population.” Dr.
Tony J. Peterle, former Professor of Zoology at Ohio State University and former Editor-in-
Chief of the Journal of Wildlife Management. More resources are available upon request.

Specifically, the rebound effect occurs with the same intensity regardless of the health of the
deer.  One would think that this conclusion is fully borne out by the repeated need for
communities, once they begin mass kills, to have to repeatedly "mow the grass."
The bottom line for opponents’ factual arguments is that culling does not work. Compensatory
Rebound Effect means through the forces of nature, which humans are not always able to
control, the deer population will rebound to essentially the same level by next fall. For those
who complaining of $30,000 as too much money, multiply that by at least six years, as the
community of Solon, which Council repeatedly refers to as a successful model, is now on their
sixth year of deer culling at over a million dollars.

You also wrote, “Monday night, we heard reports of at least two cases of Lyme Disease in or
around the Village, despite the prior information we received that the DNR does not believe Ohio
deer transmit that disease because of the soil conditions in Northwest Ohio.”
I also addressed this in my comments to the Council on Monday night, but these comments seem
not to have made it into your notes either. You are assuming that the Lyme disease was
contracted merely from the person’s living in the Village of Ottawa Hills. It appears that you
also have not referred to the Village’s circular of facts, as the information from the village stated
that Lyme disease isn’t a problem in this area. Scientific research again documents that culling
deer has no effect on Lyme disease for several reasons. I would ask that members of Council
please keep their arguments to the facts.

Reiterating what I previously sent to Council:
• Deer culling will have no effect on Lyme disease for several reasons. First, the Lyme disease-
causing tick (Ixodes scapularis) is a multi-host disease. It is carried by over 40 bird species and
all mammals. Mice and small rodents are primary hosts for the immature stages of the tick,
which are the most infectious to people. Songbirds even play a role in bringing ticks to new
areas. You can't stop a multi-host disease by killing some members of one host.
• Second, deer do not support tick-borne pathogen transmission. In other words, they do not
carry Lyme disease. They are dilution hosts. In some cases, localized absence of deer increases
tick feeding on rodents, leading to a potential increased incidence of Lyme disease. This means
that we could totally exterminate the deer and we would still have Lyme disease, perhaps with
even higher rates. (Sources: Localized Deer Absence Leads to Tick Amplification, Ecology,
87(8), 2006, pp. 1981–1986, by S. Perkins, I. Cattadori, V. Tagliapietra, A. Rizzoli, and P.
Hudson.)  
• And finally, a study in New Jersey confirms that deer culls are ineffective at reducing Lyme
disease, finding that after three seasons of deer culling, there was no apparent reduction in
tick populations or Lyme disease rates. ("Effects of Sustained Reduction of White-tailed
Deer on the Abundance of Ixodes scapularis [Acari:Ixodidae] in an Endemic Lyme Disease
ares in New Jersey," Roberto A. Jordan, Terry L. Schultze, and Margaret B. Jahn, Freehold
Area Health Department, Journal of Medical Entomology, 44[5]: 752Ð757 [2007]).
You wrote, “we are accused of failing to answer ‘any of the plethora of questions’ that
presumably have been posed to us, but I believe that all of those questions have been answered
thoroughly.” That is exactly my complaint, as the Council does not seem to be able to respond to
the incongruent information that has been provided to the residents on deer culling, no matter
how much time the issue has been discussed.

Even within your lengthy letter there is incongruency, as you wrote, “I attempted to suggest in
my comments that we may be ‘harming’ the deer in a much more significant manner if we fail to
take action and find that we have a herd that is starving to death in the dead of winter. That is
what the Ohio DNR and our research has told us,” yet the circular from the Village told us we
have a healthy herd and that is why there will not be a compensatory rebound effect. You state,
“I do not understand why those same people are not directing their attention at the annual
wholesale killing of deer by thousands of amateur hunters and meat processing plants which
regularly slaughter millions of cows, pigs, chickens and turkeys,” and yet rightfully discounted
similar extraneous arguments at the beginning of your letter. You criticize the opponents to
culling for not accepting the permit of ODNR, yet you personally dismiss ODNR’s statements on
Lyme disease.

And finally, the sarcasm in your last line, “I am assuming that our emotional opponents do not
believe that the DNR knows what it is doing, either,” is not helpful as we attempt to remain
respectful of facts versus anecdotes.

Sincerely,
Dr. Trudy Bond
2212 Innisbrook

Hello Friends,

My wife and I oppose the proposed “culling”
of the VOOH deer herd.
We gladly support the current petition drive
to place this item on the May ballot.

If one of your volunteers could stop at our home
(3440 Pelham) in late afternoon or evening
we’d happily add our names to this petition.

May we please have one of the orange “no hunting” signs
for our lawn?

Thank you for your attention.

Paul and Margaret Fritz
3440 Pelham

I read in the blade that you are collecting signatures.

If you need any signatures my family ( 5 registered voters) will swing by and sign.

Please let me know.

John Howard

Why dont you all get your head out of your asses and allow 'controlled' deer hunting by hunters. At least the meat will not go to waste, will be much much cheaper and since there are lots of tree huggers out there it will also be more ethical. I really hope sooner than later the DNR bans all feeding of deer. Everyone feeds them and then bitchs about having them in their backyards Well this debacle will be comical till the end. Good luck.

-Anonymous

DON'T BUCK THE TRUTH: KILLING DEER WORSENS OVERPOPULATION
by Lucy Mckernan
As a member of the League of Humane Voters of Ohio (LOHV) and very active volunteer for a local deer advocacy group, this writer is armed with facts concerning deer overpopulation and wildlife statistics. For this reason, I strongly object to Parma even considering a deer “management” (one of many polite euphemisms for killing) program, as recently cited in certain front page stories.

Before any action is taken, residents must face these facts:

FACT: Killing deer creates “compensatory rebound effect." Well-documented by wildlife biologists and divisions of wildlife everywhere, including Ohio, here's how rebound works: Less deer after killing (hunting, etc) + the same abundant food source for the survivors = better overall health, increasing the fertility of female deer and causing them to conceive at an earlier age and give birth to twins and triplets. Again, killing deer creates more deer.

Case in point: Cleveland Metroparks (aka “Emerald Reckless”) is entering its 13th year of deer slaughter because the past 12 years didn't do the job.

FACT: The Ohio Division of Wildlife profits between 15 and 30 percent annually from deer hunting. In fact, DOW exploits the rebound effect as a means to propagate deer. They need to keep a high inventory of live targets for economical reasons. DOW is the prime mover in any urban hunting. Their comprehensive plan involves opening up more hunting areas, and has stated so publicly. Nothing happens without their approval. State regulations require a certain amount of setback on property, which Independence totally ignored.

FACT: Southern Parma and adjacent communities see higher numbers of deer because those nearby, including Independence, allow bow hunting or other kill methods.

FACT: Independence, the geographical center of Cuyahoga County, is an excellent case in point about how to deal with deer management -- in all the wrong ways. Bow hunting has entered its third bloody year there, and it's often done illegally (at minimum, dozens of serious violations have been cited). Independence passed an ordinance virtually off the public radar so special interest/hunting groups, some, city employees, can hunt however they please. This includes Riverview Road where, with the help of a "nuisance permit," deer are killed with guns and dumped into a nearby ravine. Now, Independence wonders why it has a coyote “problem" to be "managed."

At this writing, Independence is violating Ohio's "Sunshine" law. Designed to ensure the public receives full disclosure, including council minutes, and in a timely manner, the city is now keeping the gist of what's going on from prying eyes. Will Parma residents stand for the same?

Some facts concerning certain Parma council members' stance on the deer issue:

FACT: Councilman Napoli publicly claimed “we have to do something [about the deer issue.]" What does "something" mean? And why does something have to be done? If residents don't inquire, it may be too late -- like in Independence. Except for one particular Parma councilwoman -- in Ward 1 -- most of council expressed reservations about killing deer, or doubt about whether anything should be done. Why, then, is it being discussed -- not to mention, writ so large across recent front page headlines? Red flags, anyone?

Take special note: As with Independence, it seems to take one or two council people with connections to special interest/hunting groups to pass an ordinance.

FACT: Mayor DePiero advocates “having an expert advise Parma on how to manage the deer population . . .” In this case, as always, "expert" means DOW and killing.

FACT: Parma residents themselves must watch Ward 1 councilwoman, demand access to all meetings, minutes and other information. Start a special group so that things can't be kept on the down-low. In Independence, an emergency ordinance was posted on its website late one Friday and approved the next business day by a small group of council advocates and one DOW employee. Yikes!

FACT: Deer vehicle accidents (DVA’s) are caused by hunting. Erie Insurance reports more DVA's first day of hunting than any other time of the year. Hunters chase deer from woods to roadways; sharpshooting, too, can force deer into streets.

FACT: Some deer nuisance problems are solved by simply not feeding, modifying driving habits (especially at certain times/seasons), implementing non-lethal deterrents for roads, yards, etc. Our group brought a national expert to the Seven Hills recreation center last year for “How to Deer Proof Your Garden in Five Easy Steps” to a standing room only crowd. It's being requested again by the city.

FACT: Parma, like Independence, is smart! During a recent phone survey about bow hunting in Independence, we found virtually no residents want hunting, sharpshooting or any deer killing -- not even some hunters! Again, how did this come to be? Because roughly six to seven percent of the population -- hunters and their kin -- have found ways to overrule the majority.

These species-centrics treat fellow humans the same way they treat animals.

In fact, you can tell a lot about a nation – a community – by the way it treats its animals. We are at war with other humans around the globe. At war, it seems, with each other here. Do we have to ramp up the war efforts on wildlife, now in Parma?

Just as this writer and millions of others have reduced horrific suffering inflicted on farm animals through eating plant-based diets and other cruelty-free consumerism and lifestyles, Parma and all other communities can and have formed "VOTING BLOCS" to prevent or stop the madness. To learn more about the League of Humane Voters, visit www.lohv.org and click on the Ohio link.

We, the people.

--Lucy McKernan

League of Humane Voters

Seven Hills

t was unfortunate Village Council chose to stonewall at the Nov mtg rather than answer questions and thus reduce the negative PR for the Village this issue has generated.

Anyway, I gather from the comments at the mtg and from neighbors that folks are voting against the cull, as I am, due to a lack of facts and long term responsible solution.

I still question the following:
1. What has changed in the Village/surrounding areas that has contributed to this relatively new deer problem?
2. Since deer do not belong to a specific municipality, how will the Village solution be coordinated with Toledo, Wildwood, Sylvania Township etc.?
3. What alternatives have been explored ie., changes in hunting laws, change in plantings in the river/meadow corridors?

If the ballot wording is not already set in stone, you may want to consider wording not just for or against the cull, but rather wording that suggests further fact finding. You may get more votes from people who sit the fence.

Debbie Fischer

Our village should not be going in this negative direction. Instead, we have the capability (and the wealth) to make a positive mark in our region.
I want to ask council---why are we focusing on using solar energy to electrify our school or our homes? Why can't we use part of the meadow to grow a community organic garden? Why not help provide larger fences or other means to deter deer?
We must be innovate and a village which supports life and growth.

thanks again for doing this

Cindy Millen Roberts
3329 Darlington

I know what I wanted to ask you the other day.
1. If my deer feeder is NOT on Ottawa Hills property, my lot line is the edge of OH, is there anything they can do about it?
2. If my property is posted No Hunting and a deer that they've shot walks onto my property(alive) and they come in and kill it, can they be arrested, or at least fined?

Christine Vischer

Thank you very much for stopping this thoughtless injustice.

Many of us feel very strongly about it, but would not have taken the initiative to truly do anything significant. You and your compatriots very methodically and intelligently attacked it with organization and zeal.

Wow! Thank you very much. You should be very proud of yourselves. Your hearts and heads are in the right place.

Lana Perry

A huge congratulations! You are making history and I am just thrilled that I now have an example to give others who feel hopeless.
What you have done in Ottawa Hills is record breaking.

Lane Ferrante
League of Humane Voters

Had another of my associates, with experience comparable to mine, takeanother glance over everything. He is certain, as am I, that we areall systems go. We know for a fact that the Petition is "air-tight"legally and we know for a fact that we have exceeded our necessary 218signatures.

Let's make history on Thursday!

Thanks again to all that helped and thanks again for allowing me toassist in telling village council "NOT ON MY WATCH!"

Regards,

Tate Stricklin

I read the article in the Blade last night. Thank you to you and to all the others for all the hard work. Do we really have 300 signatures? What a great Christmas Gift!

Maria Burmeister

Below is what happens now that you've submitted the referendum petitions to the clerk of the Village Council. This is lifted directly from the statute, ORC Sect. 731.29: "When a petition ... is filed with the village clerk within thirty days after any ordinance ... is passed by the legislative authority of a village ... such ... clerk shall, after ten days, and not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of election, transmit a certified copy of the text of the ordinance or measure to the board of elections. The ... clerk shall transmit the petition to the board together with the certified copy of the ordinance or measure. The board shall examine all signatures on the petition to determine the number of electors of the municipal corporation who signed the petition. The board shall return the petition to the auditor or clerk within ten days after receiving it, together with a statement attesting to the number of such electors who signed the petition. The board shall submit the ordinance or measure to the electors of the municipal corporation, for their approval or rejection, at the next generalelection occurring subsequent to seventy-five days after the ... clerk certifies the sufficiency and validity of the petition to the board of elections." The reason I had you ask the Village Clerk to open a file the day we finalized the petition form was so that the Village would be prepared to forward a certified copy of the November 23 ordinance, plus the petitions, to the Board of Elections. I'm not sure why the statute contains a 10-day delay period, but it looks as though the petitions will not be forwarded before December 28 (a Monday, actually 11 days from today). The Board of Elections will have only 10 days to review the petitions to determine voter eligibility of the signers.

Great work, people.

tjl