Austin area Neighborhood Whitetail Deer Management
Texas is know for it's whitetailed deer becoming a common sight in neighborhoods, parks and other wooded areas in Austin, Lakeway, Lago Vista and other surrounding cities.
When we moved to Lago Vista 1998 the thrill seeing these wild animals and feeding them was fun and exciting until our vegetation started to suffer.
We stopped feeding the local residents about ten plus years ago when Lakeway enforced a $500.00 fine for feeding deer. Lakeway captured many of the local residents and moved them to large ranches in Texas and Mexico.
Whitetail Deer have major effects on landscaping and the danger they represent on local area roadways causing major automobile damage and the occasional loss of life.
Deer have invited their predators to our neighborhoods, the Coyotes who have moved into the valleys and heavily brushed backyards.
Northwest Austin has been dealing with a huge coyote problem for the past few years, probably due to the abundance of whitetail deer and neighborhood pets.
Effective October 1, 2013, enforcement of the Intentional Feeding of Deer Ordinance has been transferred to the City’s Code Compliance Department. Violations of the ordinance can be reported to the Code Compliance Department by calling 311.
The City is monitoring reports of deer overpopulation and tracks the number of deer-involved traffic accident reports from the Austin Police Department and dead deer pick-up reports from Austin Resource Recovery.
The City of Austin adopted an ordinance on Feb. 23, 2009 prohibiting intentional feeding of deer.
The ordinance amends the City Code to add Chapter 10-8 which:
- Prohibits intentional feeding of or making food available to deer within city
- limits Creates a Class C Misdemeanor for violations
- Establishes a fine not less than $75 or more than $125.
Austin area Neighborhood Whitetail Deer Management is being monitored by Austin and area cities to help manage the whitetail deer populations.
Lago Vista has yet to set fines for feeding the deer population but with our growing communities its only a matter of time.
You can live with nature but must follow city ordinances, working with a local real estate agent Bob Ratliff, REALTOR® will help you understand the affects of feeding the local wildlife and local city ordinances.
Bob Ratliff, REALTOR® (512) 587-5689
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