FAIROAKSRANCH, Texas- With nearly 6,000 deer now living within the city limits, the small suburban city of Fair Oaks Ranch is trying to get a handle on its exploding population.
Ten years ago, the City of Fair Oaks Ranch took a survey and counted 2,800 white-tailed deer within city limits.
Back then the city tooksomesteps to control the population.
In a recent survey, more than 5,700 white-tailed and axis deer were counted within the city limits.
This is why for the past nine months, the city has been studying a variety of options to control the population - everything from bringing in sharpshooters to trap and relocate programs.
Our city likes to think outside the box, Mayor Cheryl Landman said. Something does need to move forward. What that something is I really can't say at this time.
Steve Aldrete operates Boerne Collision Center. He said he sees the impact of the deer population every day.
Auto and deer collisions account for a large portion of his business.
Typically it's front end, bumpers, radiators, hoods, fenders, and not quite half the time we'll have damage in the windshield as well, he said. We have people who have deer collisions annually, just living in the same area and the deer population being what it is up here.
Whatever route the city takes, Landman said it needs be an ongoing effort that would sustain a healthy deer population for years.
