Election 2011: Solon to Vote on Deer Preservation Act

What: Solon Deer Preservation Act

Election Day: Nov. 8

Proposed Ballot Language: "To adopt the Solon, Ohio Deer Preservation Act. A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage.

"Shall the Solon, Ohio Deer Preservation Act which would:

1. Prohibit a person from knowingly culling, hunting, killing, injuring or torturing a deer anywhere within the city limits of Solon, Ohio;

2. Not apply to veterinarians or law enforcement officials who for medical or public safety reasons determine that the killing of a dangerous or injured deer is warranted;

3. Make violation of the act a first-degree misdemeanor and make repeated violations a fourth-degree felony;

4. Allow any resident of Solon who learns of a violation to file a lawsuit against the violator to prevent future violations and to recover a civil forfeiture of $1,000 per violation; be adopted? 

Yes

No"

History: With Solon officials poised to , opponents of lethal deer control methods have gathered signatures to have an ordinance, the Deer Preservation Act, put on the ballot in November. The ordinance would outlaw the hunting of deer in Solon, effectively banning city council from passing a plan that kills deer. To see the proposed ordinance, check out the .pdf attached to this article.

Argument For: Opponents say that deer hunting, either with sharpshooters or with bow hunting, will pose a danger to children and residents. They also say that committing lethal methods will force the city to continue paying for it year after year, because stopping would result in the deer population rebounding to previous high levels.

Argument Against: Supporters, including , say that nonlethal deer methods don't work to the level that Solon needs. The main reason city council wants to reduce the deer population is to shrink the number of deer versus car accidents, which rise as the deer population grows. 

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