Members of the Azle City Council are putting their best hoof forward after unanimously approving the creation of a subcommittee to address deer-related concerns during their Oct. 20 meeting.
THE HERD SO FAR
The topic was heavily discussed during the Sept. 15 council meeting, when Kailee Bedunah-Ott, wildlife biologist for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, spoke about ways to curb the deer population.
Bedunah-Ott explained that while she couldn’t put a precise number on the Azle’s deer population, she could confirm that it’s “really high.” In fact, she said she receives more calls about deer-related concerns from the Azle/Springtown area than any other urban area she works with.
Many residents also spoke during public comments, voicing concerns about dead deer in their yards, property damage, deer excrement and nerve-wracking encounters with deer in their neighborhoods.
Bedunah-Ott explained that the first step in tackling the deer problem is figuring out Azle’s deer density, either through property damage surveys among residents, tracking vehicle collisions or keeping a record of dead deer picked up by Azle Animal Control.
She also outlined three approaches to managing the deer population: planning for the growing wildlife population, addressing the root cause by banning feeding or taking no action. Other options include the TPWD’s Trap, Transport and Process Permit Program — where deer are captured and transported for processing — landscaping with undesirable plants, exclusion fencing and harassment techniques.
The goal, Bedunah-Ott said, is not to completely eradicate Azle’s deer population but to reduce it to a sustainable level. For the Cross Timbers and Prairie Ecoregion, which includes Azle, the ideal number is approximately one deer per 25 acres.
After the hour-long discussion, Mayor Randa Goode told the public that while the council had not yet figured out a solution to the deer population issue, members were aware of the problem and would continue their efforts to find the best path forward.
ROUNDING UP A PLAN
Following last month’s discussion, City Manager Amber Beard told council members at their most recent meeting that staff recommended the city form its own deer subcommittee.
“This is an item that came up on a previous agenda to talk about deer populations,” Beard said. “We wanted to explore the option of trying to form a committee that might consist of a few council members, maybe up to three … and then possibly a wildlife biologist.”
According to Goode, Mayor Pro Tem Stacy Peek and Place 1 council member Derrick Nelson both expressed interest in serving on the committee; Beard also recommended herself, Assistant City Manager JP Ducay and representatives from the Azle Police Department and Azle Animal Control to serve alongside them.
Before the vote, Place 6 council member Brian Conner expressed hesitation about the council forming a subcommittee, citing concerns that the additional responsibility could lead to delays in addressing the city’s deer-related issues.
“I don’t think that it’s necessarily needed,” Conner said. “I think it’s going to slow down our action time.”
Since the subcommittee would have to bring each suggestion back before council for approval, Conner said this move could potentially turn an action item the council could act quickly on into something that could take six months before finally getting the green light.
“I'm OK with a committee. I like having the community involved, obviously, and allowing a voice on these things,” Conner said. “I'm just afraid it's going to slow down our processes even more than what we have it at currently.”
Place 5 council member Rouel Rothenberger pointed out that the subcommittee would work to address deer-related issues, including the two dead deer that were — at the time of the meeting — lying in the main lanes of State Highway 199.
“There are two deer … one on the eastbound and one on the westbound, and we still haven’t figured out how we get these animals out of the main lanes,” Rothenberger said.
Azle Police Chief Kevin Rogers spoke up from the back of the room to say he would have the animal control department remove the dead deer from the roadway.
With no other discussion, Place 4 council member Josh Berry made a motion to approve the creation of a subcommittee to address deer-related issues in the city. Rothenberger seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously, despite Conner’s initial hesitation.
