Parker resident Jessica Bussey hangs out with kids from the KCC Slum Project school in Kenya, where she served as a volunteer.
A proposal to hunt deer in a residential area south of Parker has divided homeowners in neighboring upscale subdivisions.
It’s the second time that a group of residents in High Prairie Farms has floated the idea of “culling” the expanding deer population, and one of them says the aggressive behavior of some deer poses more of a danger than a professionally conducted hunt would.
Roger Forstek, who lives in a section known as High Prairie Farms at the Lakes, says the deer in his neighborhood, the Timbers, the Pinery and Misty Pines have become so used to humans that they no longer have the natural fear that has protected the community. Forstek, who says he was in his car when he was charged by a buck last year, said other reports of threatening behavior have people concerned. He says two dogs were recently attacked separately in their backyards, and one needed 60 stitches to close a gash made by the antlers of a buck.
“There is nothing wrong with deer acting how they act in their territory,” Forstek said. “The problem is they’re making their territory our yards now.”
Several homeowners have strongly opposed the idea of hunting. Joan Beasley, a resident of the Timbers, believes many complaints stem from the destructive behavior of deer, such as eating flowers and vegetables and damaging landscaping. Beasley said those proposing the hunt are “overreacting” and could bring more danger to the neighborhood.
“I haven’t spoken to many people that want it. I don’t even understand why you’d try this in a residential area,” she said. “People are walking dogs, riding their bikes, pushing baby carriages, there’s people jogging.”
Forstek said any idea of using firearms has largely been dismissed in favor of “more accurate” bow shooting. The High Prairie Farms Metro District board of directors heard arguments from both sides during a meeting July 10, but did not make any decisions. Forstek said reducing the number of deer, whose population has exploded in recent years, reduces the likelihood of incidents between deer and humans or dogs.
“People don’t look at this as a threat, but if it was bears or mountain lions back there, they would be doing something,” he said. “How is it different from a deer attacking?”
Casey Westbrook, a ranger for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, said there were roughly five reports of deer exhibiting aggression toward dogs in High Prairie Farms in 2012. The issues are not so much tied to aggressive deer, but rather their habits, he said.
“Many more people are impacted day to day by other things the deer do, like eating or rubbing on landscape plants, crossing the roadways, etc.,” Westbrook said.
Christel Kozar, who lives in the Timbers, said residents should understand that they can’t decorate with fresh flowers, potted plants or pumpkins and said many people moved to the area with more open spaces and vegetation to enjoy the wildlife.
“We’re not coexisting. We’re trying to manipulate the situation to make it convenient for us, and it’s making me nuts,” she said.
Forstek warned that it might take a serious injury to a child to awaken people to the problem. He added that he is open to ideas other than hunting with bows, including using devices that emit high-frequency sounds that deer avoid, but has not heard of an effective alternative solution.
Kozar said her dachshund was chased and cornered by a doe after it barked at its fawn, and the dog learned its lesson. She said the incident has not swayed her opinion, and suggested imposing fines against those who put out salt licks and food for the deer.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife will make the ultimate decision on how to proceed, and Westbrook ensured that education will be a large part of any action. He added that “individual animals that pose a safety concern for a person will be addressed individually as appropriate to protect the public.”
Forstek said he believes there are some who are opposed to hunting in general, and pushed aside assertions that arrows could go wayward or travel long distances as “silly.” He is against those who have proposed taking matters into their own hands, noting that a deer was killed illegally with an arrow and left earlier this year.
“We must manage this thing because the law of averages says somewhere down the road, we will have a problem,” he said, adding that mating season ups the chances. “We want to get ahead of it.