Helena Area News

Urban deer count underway in Helena

Posted: Oct 5, 2012 9:45 PM by Lindsey Gordon (Helena)

The Helena Police Department is taking to the streets to get a count of the urban deer population within city limits.

It isn't uncommon to see urban deer leisurely grazing in herds of three in front yards of residential areas.

The problem isn't recent and this is the time of year the Helena PD sets out for the next several nights following an established route to count deer.

While some people don't necessarily mind the presence of the deer, they can be a nuisance, and sometimes present real danger.

Quentin Kujala of MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks noted, "Some in the public don't like the property damage that they cause, others have had their pets attacked, we have had some pets killed by the deer, we've had some people challenged and attacked by the deer to some extent, we have had traffic accidents with deer."

In 2011, deer were cited as factors in 21 traffic accidents in Helena.

Once the police complete the deer count on October 16th, they will report the figures FWP.

Kujala said, "If the density developed from this year's survey is above the target density, history would tell us that that would lead the city to advocate an authorization for additional deer take this year."

That is where the Helena Police Department would get involved.

Helena Police Chief Troy McGee said, "We do have some officers that do take this on; the deer are trapped a certain time of year and then they're actually dispatched and their meat is given to Food Share."