Geneva City Council, in its meeting on Wednesday, turned down a proposal to control what some claim is a growing deer population in the city’s Ward 1.
The Finger Lakes Times reports the discussion was initiated by Ward 1 Councilor Tom Burrall, who voiced concerns over the challenges of maintaining flower gardens in his ward due to the deer, likening the gardens to a “salad bar” for the animals.
Burrall also highlighted reports of an increasing number of deer, citing a local farmer’s loss of a third of his crops to them and the observable growth in the deer population over the last two years.
However, the council’s response to the suggestion of a potential limited deer hunt was lukewarm at best. While City Manager Amie Hendrix noted that any such initiative would require state Department of Environmental Conservation approval and supporting data, several councilors, including At-Large Councilor Frank Gaglianese III and Ward 6 Councilor Kyle Brimm, downplayed the extent of the problem, asserting that the area is adequately hunted.
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