It is way past time that Colorado Parks and Wildlife start living up to the wildlife part of its title.
The urban deer herds that residents of the Town of Bayfield and the City of Durango must deal with is unconscionable. They are nothing less than forest rats who destroy urban vegetation, harass pets and as a prey species, attract mountain lions. None of this is acceptable.
The deer were not here in Bayfield or in Durango anywhere near the extent they are now when we first moved to Bayfield 30 years ago. That it is not uncommon to see different good-sized herds in both communities – in addition to a resident herd of large bucks in Bayfield that are unafraid of people – speaks to a very real problem.
What is CPW doing to manage the growing populations? It appears to be nothing! Calling CPW to ask about what they are going to do to address the issue and, really, all we get as taxpayers is lip service. Questions such as “what are your mitigating measures?” Or CPW comments such as “some people like the deer.”
To effectively fence out deer, CPW says install an 8-foot fence. The town ordinance limits fencing to 6 feet, 4 feet in front of a residence.
CPW needs to quit paying lip service when called and begin doing what the enabling statutes tell them to do:
Manage the wildlife! Particularly when property owners are doing their part!
David Black
Bayfield
