Citizens ask Mill Creek Park officials to hold off on voting on deer population control efforts
Some concerned citizens are asking the Mill Creek Park Board of Commissioners not to vote on whitetail deer population control efforts at the scheduled board meeting Monday evening.
21 News has obtained a copy of the meeting agenda listing a "whitetail deer management plan" as one of many items in the new business section of the agenda.
Board President, Lee Frey has confirmed that this item is related to a controlled hunting program designed to thin out the metroparks' whitetail deer population.
However, a letter sent by Marc Dann from Lakewood-based law firm, Dann Law has written a letter on behalf of a group of concerned citizens to the Board requesting members to wait a little longer before voting.
On Friday, April 7, Dann had requested data from California-based organization, In Defense of Animals regarding the metroparks' deer population.
However, due to the holiday weekend, the organization was unable to contact its expert to analyze the data in time for the meeting. That's why Dann is requesting the board not to vote until the analysis is complete.
"In Defense of Animals has requested additional time to retain an expert to review the documents provided based on the information just received. My clients respectfully request that the board allow them sufficient time to consult with wildlife experts so that they can provide meaningful and relevant information to the board before it begins what may be a misguided effort to cull deer," the letter reads.
According to Dann's letter, at first review, it appears that the alleged 120,000 photographs park officials used as a basis to determine the extent of deer culling required, as well as a possible physical count of deer footprints in the snow appeared to have been omitted from a public records request.
"Recent studies performed by my clients indicate that a footprint study is the most accurate method of measuring deer population," the letter reads.
As of this writing, voting is still expected to take place during Monday night's meeting at 6:00 p.m. Tune in to 21 News at 11:00 p.m. for details on what comes out of this meeting.
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