OXFORD, MS – They're cracking down on the deer population in Oxford, Mississippi. Homeowners say too many deer are wandering into their yards, tearing up shrubs and landscaping. They also worry the deer could be dangerous for drivers. That’s why the city is launching the first phase of a preliminary deer management plan on Monday.
"I see four, five, or six out here -- they're just totally tame, not afraid of humans at all,” said Danny Simmons. He also says he often sees deer in the St. Andrews neighborhood where he works.
That lack of fear is why deer can be hard to get rid of, said Jimmy Allgood, the city’s director of emergency management.
"These are not typical deer - they don't run away from loud noises or vehicles or people -- they're used to it," Allgood said.
Allgood helps spearhead the city's effort to keep the deer population in check. That starts with tracking deer to find out how many are in the city. Allgood said crews will spread across the city Monday to start an official count.
"We'll do that for 10 days and take an average of the 10-day count," he said, adding that then they’ll look for ways to keep deer out of neighborhoods.
“There are foliage and shrubs you can plant that the deer don't necessarily like," Allgood said.
The city has even set up a website so homeowners can report deer sightings in their neighborhoods.
“Some homeowners are reporting $4,000 to $5,000 worth of damage to landscaping and shrubbery and these kinds of items,” Allgood explained.
Simmons says a formal deer management plan can't come soon enough.
"They are getting to be a nuisance as far as traffic is concerned,” he said. “They really need to be kept under control.”
Allgood said a public hearing may be scheduled next month, and city leaders hope to have a preliminary plan by December.
