The information below will help you address many of the problems caused by deer and provide you with the options to address deer-related issues. The City of Avon Lake and Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife seek to give residents as many options as possible to deal with deer problems while taking into consideration the residential growth of our City.
While deer most times appear to be gentle animals, you must remember that they are wild animals that can be unpredictable. You should always give wild animals their space. If they feel threatened, they can easily cause injuries to humans or pets. If you notice a deer approaching you, make noise and wave your hands so that the deer knows you are there. If the deer continues to approach you, get inside and contact the Avon Lake Police Department at 440- 933-4567.
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Resources | Safety Tips | Removal of Deer Carcass | Annual Deer Survey | Step-by-Step Dealing with Deer Damage
Resources
Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) - Division of Wildlife | Nuisance Species: Deer
The ODNR website offers helpful tips and information on preventing property damage caused by deer. Topics include:
- Fencing | The ODNR Division of Wildlife recommends several effective fencing solutions to protect home gardens, but some of the fencing solutions they recommend do not comply with the City of Avon Lake’s fence ordinance. Before you put up a fence, contact the City's Zoning Department.
- Preventing Landscape Damage | Various sprays can help deter deer from eating your plants. A list of repellent products can be found on the ODNR Division of Wildlife’s website. It is also recommended to choose plants that are less palatable to deer. The ODNR also provides a guide to plants, groundcover, and shrubs that deer typically avoid eating.
- Preventing Tree Rubbing | Tree rubbing (often called buck rubs) occurs when either a buck is shedding the “velvet” off of their antlers or they are marking territory. ODNR recommends easy techniques for discouraging bucks from damaging your trees.
Safety Tips
Aggressive Deer Behavior
Whenever you let your pets outside, always scan the area first to ensure no deer are in your yard. Even dogs contained within a buried electric fence will chase after a deer. This is especially important during birthing season (May-June). Occasionally, a doe may perceive your dog as a threat to their fawn.
Normal deer behavior is often confused with a deer acting aggressively. A normal deer reaction is to stomp the ground when they are unsure if something is a threat or not. When you unexpectedly find a deer in front of you, and freeze, the deer will stomp the ground to try to get you to move and determine if you are a threat. As mentioned above, make noise and wave your hands so that the deer knows you are there. The deer should within a few seconds turn and leave the area. Keep in mind that deer in cities regularly see and hear people; it is common for urban deer to not run away when they see a person.
Artifically Feeding Deer
Many people enjoy watching deer. An easy way to attract deer onto your property is with artificial feed. However, Avon Lake Ordinance 618.14(b) prohibits the feeding of any wild or feral animal.
Orphaned Fawns
Birthing season occurs between May – June, and it is not uncommon to find what appear to be orphaned fawns. In fact, a fawn is born without scent and left by its mother to afford them the best opportunity to not be found by predators. Never put bowls of food or water near fawns as that may attract the predators and give away their hiding spot. The best thing you can do is to leave the fawn alone. Usually by the next morning, the doe will have moved the fawn to a new area, again aiding in protection from the fawn being detected by a predator. Keep in mind it is never a good practice to handle wildlife and in the case of fawns, you might actually put the fawn at risk of predators.
Vehicle Accidents
The best way to avoid deer collisions with your vehicle is to be alert for deer. While deer can and do move throughout the day, their primary movement times are at sunrise and sunset. Breeding season (October – November) and birthing season (May - June) are often times you should be extra vigilant in watching for deer along roadways. Hitting a deer can cause serious damage to your vehicle, but you run a higher risk of injuring yourself or someone else by swerving off the road. It is recommended to slow down if you see a deer crossing the road in front of you. If you need to stop quickly to avoid hitting a deer, hit your brakes while maintaining your vehicle in the lane in which you are driving. Remember, deer crossing signs are placed in areas throughout the city that have been identified as areas where deer regularly cross. However, deer can cross in front of you on any road throughout the city.
Removal of Deer Carcass
To request the removal of a deer carcass from your yard, please call the Public Works Department at 440-930-4126. If it is in the roadway, please call the Avon Lake Police Department at 440-933-4567.
Annual Deer Survey
The City holds an annual deer survey as part of its Deer Management Plan. The survey serves as a baseline of general public opinion regarding the issue of White-tailed Deer in the City.
Step-by-Step Process for Dealing with Deer Damage
- Landowner recognizes they have a deer problem (flowers, bushes or property chewed, scat, garden & property damage, etc.).
- Landowner reviews Deer Damage Control guide on ways to address the deer problem they recognized.
- If the problem was not fixed using the Deer Damage Control information, the landowner can call the Division of Wildlife Officer at 330-245-3032 to seek further guidance on their deer problem.
- If a determination from the phone conversation between the resident and the Division of Wildlife or the Wildlife Officer is that a site visit is needed, a mutually agreed appointment will be made.
- Based on that visit the Division of Wildlife may issue a Deer Damage Control Permit (“DDCP”), if so, within 15 days after receiving the DDCP the resident must fill out an application for a Municipal Deer Control Permit (“MDCP”) from the City of Avon Lake through the Avon Lake Police Department.
- After submission of an application for a MDCP through the City of Avon Lake, a site visit will be made within 15 business days by the Chief of Police or his designee to determine if the property in the application is deemed a safe place to utilize the DDCP issued by the Ohio Division of Wildlife.
- If the resident is then issued a MDCP by the City of Avon Lake, they are able to utilize the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s DDCP while following all rules and regulations as set forth on both the Deer Damage Control Permit and Municipal Deer Control Permit.
- Any deer killed under a MDCP must be reported to the Avon Lake Police Dispatch at 440-933-4567 within 24 hours of tagging the deer. All antlers must be turned over to a Wildlife Officer or division representative as outlined in Condition #14 of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Deer Damage Control Permit.