MANSFIELD - Deer are raising Cain for some in the borough, according to a survey of about 150 residents on the north and south ends of town by Mansfield University students. Their findings were presented to borough council Tuesday.
According to the results of the Department of Agriculture survey, about 40 percent said they had landscape damage, according to Sarah Koontz, one of the students who worked on the project.
"About half of those could put a dollar figure on the damage," she said, so overall there was about $2,000 in damage that residents could quantify in their gardens, shrubs and trees, averaging out to about $300 per person.
Many residents said they enjoyed watching the deer, and even feeding them, while others said they believed they were intruding in the deer's habitat and that other wildlife such as groundhogs, squirrels and bear cause more of a problem than deer.
Possible solutions presented included a controlled archery hunt, outlawing the feeding of deer, fencing of gardens and shrubs and use of repellants.
The students said they would complete their report and submit it to the borough.
In other business, council:
Approved the proposed 2010 budget, which includes a 1-mill tax increase.
Announced there will be another public hearing just prior to its next council meeting at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 15 for the liquor license transfer requested by the Rick Lucero family, this time for a building housing the Video King Store, which is going out of business.
Agreed to participate in the Pennsylvania Heritage Program for a $1,000 fee to have a consultant advise them on developing and enhancing the "unique qualities of the downtown."
Approved two service agreements for the new Tioga County YMCA, to be located in the old armory.
