Deer deaths in Havre discussed during town hall

Watch for an update on infrastructure and funding from Havre Public Works in upcoming editions of Havre Daily News.

Havre officials said during a town hall meeting Monday that the problem with deer dying in Havre seems to come from eating food from humans.

After Pam Harada asked about several reports of deer being found dead in town, Havre Police Chief Gabe Matosich said the officers investigating found that the dead deer were generally in good health, but eating the wrong food.

"What they found was that people were feeding them," Matosich said.

He said the digestive system of deer in the winter months is not set to process the food they are finding in town and they bloat and die.

"It would be good for people to know the consequences," he added.

Havre Mayor Doug Kaercher said, while this being the cause of death for the animals is speculation, feeding deer already is against city law - the council approved aligning city ordinance to match state ordinance banning feeding of wild deer more than a year ago as more and more of the animals started appearing in the city.

Harada said, while she does not like having the animals in the city, she doesn't want them dying either, and Havre should find a solution.

"Since this is becoming a problem in Havre, maybe we could try to do more to nip it in the bud as opposed to some of the other cities that have has such an overwhelming problem," she said.

Kaercher said finding a solution - and how to pay for it - is a problem of its own.

"All those other cities started out with a small problem, too, and they weren't able to stop it," he said. "They've tried some extreme (methods) to try to stop it. You're not seeing a whole lot of luck in Helena and you're not seeing a whole lot of luck in Fort Benton and you're not seeing a whole lot of luck in some of these other communities that have deer. It's just one of those issues that, once they feel comfortable in your community, they're going to be here."

He added that how much to spend on it is another question.

"I'm just at a loss on how much money do we spend if we're not ever seeing any benefit in other parts of the state. ... So that's a dilemma on my part, too."

He added that the city will listen to people who have ideas and try to incorporate them, and talk with Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

"But I don't think (FPW has) the answers either, because its not working anywhere else," he added.

"As soon as Helena figures it out we'll be right on their trail," Havre Public Works Director Dave Peterson said.

Council member Andrew Brekke said education of the public is a big part of it.

When Havre passed its ordinance against feeding deer, to match state ordinance and primarily as an educational push, many people criticized the council.

But, he said, FWP said people feeding deer is very seroius.

"They said that is the most serious problem they have. (People) think they are cute and they feed them and it is not good for them. ... Feeding that kind of food to a deer is not good."

He added that it is like when bears find food from human.

"It becomes generational. These deer have been raised multigenerations in the commumity, but people are still feeding them," he said. "And I have had arguments with people who say 'this is what we should be doing.'"

Brekke added that he thinks putting pressure on FWP to help find a solution also could help.

After a discussion that having the deer in town could lead to people, to children, being injured, Kaercher added that it could lead to more dangerous animals in town as predators follow the deer.

"We could have a mountain lion going around," he said. "It will take dogs and cats, too, it's not just going to take deer."