August 8, 2024 |
Photo – A Rawlins town deer shows no fear – Bigfoot99 file photo
The city of Rawlins is forming a permanent committee to address nuisance deer in the town.
In 2018, the Rawlins city council, with the cooperation of Wyoming Game and Fish and the Rawlins Police Department, created a deer culling committee. The following year, with the authorization of Game and Fish, the Rawlins PD began killing deer within city limits. The deer cull lasted until 2021, when the committee was disbanded.
In May, following complaints from residents, the Rawlins city council decided to reform the deer culling committee. The council instructed City Manager Tom Sarvey to investigate how to form a new committee.
During Tuesday’s Rawlins city council meeting, City Manager Sarvey said a new committee can use the existing deer culling plan as a foundation. However, Sarvey said the council must adopt a resolution or an ordinance to reform the deer culling committee.
Sarvey said the previous deer committee was established via a resolution. The city manager said resolutions typically cover short periods of time and require reauthorization once the deadline passes. Instead, Sarvey said the council could opt to create a new city ordinance permanently establishing the deer culling committee.
Sarvey said new bylaws governing how the committee operates will need to be written. Mayor Terry Weickum said he would like the deer culling to be a permanent occurrence. As for bylaws, Mayor Weickum said the previous committee operated under Wyoming Game and Fish’s Chapter 56 regulations.
Chapter 56 of the Wyoming Game and Fish regulations governs the lethal taking of wildlife. The regulation allows for the controlled removal of wildlife under specific circumstances to address issues such as property damage, threats to human health and safety, and disease control.
Councilwoman Jacquelin Wells asked Sarvey to reach out to the previous committee members and ask if they would like to be part of the new task force. Mayor Weickum said ex-committee members he’s spoken to will help form a new board but have no interest in serving again.
The deer culling committee must contain two Wyoming Game and Fish members. Mayor Weickum said Game and Fish determines how many deer can be killed every year.
Councilwoman Tonya Lewman asked who will physically cull the deer: the Rawlins Police or members of the Wyoming Game and Fish. Mayor Weickum said the take permit forbids state wildlife agency from being involved with the killing.
After the deer are killed, Game and Fish biologists will test the animals for illnesses, such as chronic wasting disease. If the animals are clean, the meat is donated to Rawlins households through a lottery system.
Councilman Chris Weisenburg said he would like to vote on a resolution to reestablish the deer culling committee for one year. During that time, the administrative work of reforming the board can be completed. The council can then go through the process of creating a new city ordinance.
The council instructed City Manager Sarvey to obtain a copy of the Wyoming Game and Fish Chapter 56 permit to use as the foundation for a newly formed deer culling committee.
