Does Sunset Hills Have a Deer Problem?

One Sunset Hills staffer said he’s observed an increase in deer in his subdivision; now a new committee is looking into ways to control the deer population within city limits. Last week the city’s Board of Aldermen approved a study to help the committee determine the scope of the issue.

Anywhere from eight to 16 deer frequent the Windsor Hills neighborhood, according to city collector Michael Sawicki. He asked the board to consider a new plan to combat their increased presence at a November Board of Aldermen meeting.

Sawicki was asked to chair the new committee, which is designated to examine different deer control options. Other members, appointed on Dec. 11, include Peter Bruck, Ken Boegeman, Tony Nacrelli, Don Stoppelmann, and Paul Witbrodt.

Stoppelmann, who said upwards of 15 deer frequent his own neighborhood, expressed his own concerns at the Nov. 20 meeting about residents feeding wildlife.

Last week the city’s Board of Aldermen approved $2,500 to be diverted to a population study by wildlife management agency White Buffalo. The non-profit agency is well-known to the city of Town & Country, who recently put their own deer management plan in place. They will spot sample deer populations in certain areas to determine the overall population.

No deer control methods have been identified by the committee yet, though the city has previously worked with the Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center to conduct a managed deer hunt. The next managed hunt is scheduled for the second week in January, according to a release from the Missouri Department of Conservation.

MDC is conducting a 'spotlight count' of total deer on the property at Powder Valley on Monday, Dec. 17. 

Previous Patch coverage on deer control in the St. Louis area:

• Town and Country To Sharpshoot Deer in December
• Manchester Learns Deer Management Options
• Creve Coeur city leaders to allow bow hunting for deer
• Town and Country Residents Debate Deer Management Funding