Quick Take: Solon Moving Quickly on Deer Count

Solon officials are wasting no time gathering data to prepare to begin a comprehensive deer management program later this year.

After Public Works Commissioner Jim Stanek sent the safety and public properties committee a memo last week population by air, the committee tonight authorized Stanek to pursue both options and eventually pick one.

The committee's preference was for a "site-count aerial survey" which is cheaper than the other option, which is a thermal count.

The thermal count could run the city about $30,000, while the site count would cost $5,000 to $10,000.

Cost is important to city officials because the count would have to be conducted on an annual basis using the same method to keep the data consistent.

The drawback of the site count is that it could take weeks to complete, and the city is running out of winter season – the best time to get an accurate count of the deer.

Solon did a thermal aerial count in 2004 and 2005 before it began a deer culling program but since has relied on ground counts conducted by the animal warden. 

According to those counts, Solon's deer population has surged since the city ended its sharpshooting program in 2009 to about 700 now. Officials project more than 1,000 later this year.

There's more deer-related news from tonight's meeting of the safety committee, which included a briefing from officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Ohio Division of Wildlife.

Come back to Solon Patch Thursday for more coverage.