Couple asks council for deer help

An Electric City couple pressed the city council Tuesday to start a discussion on the in-town deer population, which they said is now increasing and becoming a problem.

Robbin and Carol Boyce said they’ve lived in the area since 1989 but never had problems with deer before 2010, and now it’s getting worse.

Carol Boyce described problems with deer now ranging from her apparently tasty forsytvuhia bushes that are “just about toast” to an overly familiar buck who spooked her visiting adult granddaughter by coming too close behind her in the yard. She also cited an increase in cougar sightings in town.

She said she has spoken with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife officials in Ephrata, but considered their advice nonresponsive.

“Like you’re supposed to be managing the deer population for him,” she said, including fencing, adding “stinky stuff” to your plants, and making noises. “That’s really not managing the population; that’s just moving it around.”

Robbin Boyce said a 2016 mule deer management plan written by the state is disappointing and sets a goal of increasing their numbers.

“We’re asking you,” he told the city leaders, “to foster an avenue and start a public outreach, with Department of Wildlife on coming up with some kind of plan to deal with the deer.”

He said WDFW’s plan calls for the agency working with community leaders on long-term solutions to such problems, which can be controversial.

Councilmember Brian Buche said he agreed with the couple on deer problems, but he noted that many people in town feed them and want them around.

Councilmember Bob Rupe suggested finding out if Wilbur came up with any answers when they had a similar problem a few years ago.

Fire Chief Mark Payne said it’s legal to hunt within city limits with a bow, but not a gun. He noted the state designates master hunters, several of whom live in the area.

Mayor Diane Kohout said she hoped to have the issue on the agenda again in the next couple months.