Highland Heights Officials to Discuss Deer Problem

Wilson Mills Road resident Lisa Benedetti said her yard is being overrun by deer that destroy her plants and flowers and are not afraid to approach people.

"The deer are out of control," she told Highland Heights City Council at Tuesday's meeting. "They need to be culled and we are very concerned."

Mayor Scott Coleman had asked Police Chief James Cook last July to look into culling as an option and it was not recommended. But the deer issue will be on the agenda for the April 19 Committee of the Whole meeting.

Coleman said city officials have been reviewing what other communities are doing to address problems with deer.

"We've been relatively lucky, we haven't had many incidents. But we know the deer are there," Coleman said.

Benedetti said she regularly sees deer, often up close.

"We're working in the yard, they approach us. This is a little bit on the scary side. They come right up to our house," she said. She added that she's worried about the safety of her 90-year-old father.

The deer also wreck her garden.

"We have spent over $1,000 trying to protect our plants and shrubs," she said.

Benedetti said properties around her are all 1 acre or 2 acres and there's ample room for marksmen to cull the deer. She added that animal lovers might not be so opposed to the idea if they planted something and found it gone the next day.

"You have this wonderful display of plants and flowers and you go out the next day and it's gone," she said.