(A) The village will conduct a deer count by thermal imaging technology every third year. In order to control costs, the Village Manager may enter into an agreement to share costs with the City of Cincinnati, which owns and operates French Park within Amberley Village, as both jurisdictions benefit from a reduced deer herd in this area, or other neighboring jurisdictions.
(B) The village is permitted to cull up to 50 deer per calendar year without additional approval by Council. If the Village Police Department determines that, due to increased complaints of property damage or an increase in deer vehicle accidents, a higher number of deer should be culled, the Police Department may make a request to the Health, Education, & Welfare Committee to increase the number of deer culled.
(C) Deer culling shall only be conducted by members of the Village Police Department as authorized by the Police Chief. Culling shall be achieved by trained sharpshooters or crossbows.
(D) Prior to culling, notices shall be posted around the culling area warning persons of the activity, and all culling areas shall be closed to the public. Culling may not be performed on private property without written permission from the owner and a release from legal liability approved by the Solicitor. Any such permission granted shall continue in perpetuity until withdrawn by the owner.
(E) The management of the deer population shall include a monitoring program which includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the following:
(1) Deer vehicle accidents (DVA). Village Police will continue to monitor the number of reported and unreported DVAs occurring within Amberley Village, and will monitor reports of injured deer and deer carcasses collected in the village. The village will collect and maintain records of deer vehicle accidents and property damage complaints via an online form accessible on the village website. Residents may self-report incidents on the web form. Information collected by the village will be reviewed by the Health, Education, & Welfare Committee once per calendar year in September, in order to assess whether appropriate records are being maintained.
(2) Citizen complaints. Residential complaints received by the village will be entered into a database to be utilized in monitoring progress of selected control methods and providing guidance in recommending modifications. Complaints of deer damage or traffic related issues can be made directly to the administration office or by utilizing the Deer Damage Report on the village's website. This information will be provided to Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife personnel.
(3) Harvested animal inventory. If required by the Ohio Division of Natural Resources, pertinent data such as sex of deer, age (estimated), and weight should be logged on each animal harvested or removed by other means. Date, time and location should also be included if the information is available.
(4) Public opinion surveys. Village staff will establish a form for residents to access online in order to self-report property damage, injured deer sightings, and unreported DVAs. Additionally, the Health, Education, and Welfare Committee will survey residents by any available online survey in order to gauge resident feedback regarding deer management.
(5) All data collected by the village will be periodically reviewed by the Health, Education, & Welfare Committee not less than once per calendar year. Any changes or amendments to the village deer management program shall be made and brought before Council's regularly scheduled October meeting, if necessary.
(Res. 2017-35, passed 10-9-17)