City Of Mentor Asks For Residents' Help With Deer Survey

Mentor has turned to its residents to learn more about the white-tailed deer population living in the city.

The deer population has been a popular and occasionally divisive subject in the city for awhile.

Many feel the deer population has reached an unsustainable size that not only causes car crashes and property damage, it also damages habitat and threatens biodiversity.

However, others feel many of the tactics that would be used to control the population would be inhumane.

Earlier this year, Council gave the city administration permission to pursue the permits needed to get a .

Then Mentor City Manager Kenneth Filipiak to City Council that would, if passed, legalize the bow hunting of deer in Mentor. Council will discuss the proposed ordinance more during a work session on Aug. 21.

As part of Mentor's pursuit to get a Deer Management Plan, the city has asked its people how the deer in Mentor have affected their lives.

"We want to get the best information we can on each unique part of our city as to the scope and nature of the problem," Filipiak said.

The city manager added that the survey would supplement the information from the .

Some of the questions in the survey are:

• How often do you see deer on your property?
• How concerned about deer/vehicle accidents are you in the city of Mentor?
• Has your property been damaged by deer? If so, how much damage was done?
• Have you or your pet experienced aggressive or territorial behavior from the deer in your neighborhood?
• How concerned are you about the deer population in your neighborhood?

To participate in the survey, click here.

Additionally, all Mentor denizens who complete the survey will be entered for a chance to win a City of Mentor Parks and Recreation family pack.