Ranch

Information

SECOND MEETING ON HLR HABITAT AND DEER POPULATION

SPONSORED BY THE B BOARD AND

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT

JANUARY 15, 2010

Below is a summary of an informational meeting conducted at Holly Hall at HLR by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), District 5 Regulatory Wildlife staff.  B Board members present: Garland Ford, Vice President, Larry Bowman, Treasurer, Jeanette Sterner, Secretary, and Jim Atchley.

I. I. Larry Bowman opened the meeting by stating the reason for the meeting is so all of us can become educated on the “Man vs. Nature” situation at HLR.  We all enjoy the wildlife of HLR and the surrounding area, in fact that is why many of us moved to HLR.  Unfortunately, there are times when the continued development of an area begins to encroach on the habitat of the wildlife.  That is one reason why the Wild Life Work Group was formed.  They volunteered to study the situation and make improvements for both humans and the wildlife, especially the deer.  Larry introduced Trevor Tanner, who has been a TPWD District 5 Regulatory Wildlife Biologist since 2003.  He covers Wood County and 8 other NE Texas counties.

II. Trevor introduced the team who has worked on the HLR Deer Study and Report.  David Sierra, TPWD District Leader for District 5.  David has over 30 years of experience with TPWD.  He held the Regulatory Biologist position, Trevor’s current job, for Wood County.  David is very familiar with the area and the issues at hand.  Brett Johnson has been the Dallas Metroplex Urban Wildlife Biologist for TFWD since 2003.  He has done extensive work with urban wildlife issues and regional urban planning boards.  Jessica Alderson has been the Ft. Worth Metroplex Urban Wildlife Biologist for TPWD since 2008.  Her Masters’ thesis was on the “Human Dimensions and Urban Deer Management.”

III. Trevor said the first part of his presentation would be a questionnaire prepared by Jessica.  Jessica explained that 50 random individuals were selected from the attendees to answer some initial questions concerning HLR habitat and the management of wildlife. They asked for volunteers who did not hear the presentation when the informational meeting was held October 27, 2009. Jessica said some questions will be general information concerning habitat and deer, but most will pertain to HLR.  She said that after Trevor gives his report, she would ask most of these questions again.  She said a survey or ballot would be sent to HLR property owners at a later date.  All attendees could read the questions on the screen and keep their individual responses.  They could compare their answers with those in the random sample.  Her thesis was the development of such questionnaires and their implementation with communities such as ours with similar wildlife/habitat concerns.  There were a variety of questions, but they centered on: a. One’s views and attitude concerning the deer population of HLR; b. Is HLR overpopulated with deer and the effect on the plant life; c. The methods of reducing the population and the pros and cons of each method (Methods ranged from controlled hunt by professionals, transporting the deer to other habitats, and processing deer meat for food banks, a non-profit organization or do nothing.); d. The problems the deer population has caused for property owners, such as vehicle damage and destruction of home gardens; e. The varying costs associated with each method of reducing the population of deer; and f. The negative impact on other wild animals and plant species.  As Jessica presented the questions, she received several negative comments about the wording of the questions.  Some did not feel the questions pertained to HLR.

IV. Trevor’s report had three components:  A. Habitat Management, the deer have to have a place to live and have adequate, proper nourishment; B. Population Management is not done by predators because most of those are not at HLR, namely hunters and coyotes; C. Human Management, we came into the natural habitat of several species of animal life and plant life.  It is our responsibility to manage the habitat so plants, animals, and humans can live and be sustained adequately.  (NOTE: The deer survey and the analysis of the situation by TPWD is the same as was given at the first meeting held on October 27, 2009.  Therefore, the report will not be reported here.  A copy of the report can be obtained in the October issue of HLR Gazette, HLR website, Belinda Flower’s HLR News, and from the HLRA Admin office.  Comments and questions at this meeting were:

A. Property owners expressed several negative comments.  Some did not believe the report or the deer survey to be correct.  They questioned the expertise of the biologists who gave the report and David Sierra, the senior member of the team.  Several people said they had not observed the browse line change or the loss of habitat due to the number of deer.  So, they did not think HLR had a problem with deer.  David said they were there only to present the facts and to assist and advise HLRA on how to deal with the problem. TPWD’s job at this stage is to educate the community.  He said their job is to assist communities with saving and promoting the habitat for all living species, animal, birds, and plants.  They do this by assisting with surveys, reporting, educating, and assist with devising a plan of action that will help the entire habitat.  The decisions on how to approach the deer situation was up to HLRA and not them.  This explanation was not received very well by some of the attendees.  

B. A resident had sent an e-mail stating that the issue of birth control had not been researched.  The resident forwarded a website to the Board and TPWD.  Trevor had spoken on the issue of birth control at the October meeting and his response was published in the minutes.  However, he again reviewed the research findings on the use of birth control.

1. There is not an approved method sanctioned by the Texas Legislature and therefore, no method is approved by TPWD.

2. Trevor said if you review the costs listed on this website, you will find it is very expensive.  It is difficult to administer the procedure and the effectiveness is not very high.  The safety of the procedure for the animal, as well as the administrator of the procedure, is not high.  These are some of the reasons; birth control is not a sanctioned method of resolving the deer problem.

C. Most of the 50 individuals who answered the questionnaire presented before the report was given did not change their mind after the report was explained.  This is in contrast to the meeting on October 27, 2009.  At this meeting there were individuals who answered the questionnaire who did not feel there is a deer problem at HLR and there were some who felt there is a problem.  The difference in this first meeting is that the majority who commented on the final questionnaire that there is a deer problem at HLR and action needed to be taken soon.  The majority who answered the questionnaire felt the best alternative so far presented was to Trap and Process the meat for a charity or a non-profit organization.  Whereas the majority at the January 15th meeting felt there was not a deer problem at HLR and nothing should be done.  (NOTE: With the split in opinion at these two meetings, the Deer Survey Ballot will be critical in determining the next step in the decision-making process for HLRA.  There will also be an A/B Board meeting on January 26, where this issue will be addressed.)

V. The results of the Deer Ballot will be presented at the Open B Board meeting on January 19 at the Holly Hall at 2:00p.m.

A motion was made to adjourn the meeting and the motion passed.

Minutes Submitted by,

Jeanette L. Sterner, Secretary

Please note: These are “summaries” provided to us  not meeting minutes