Minutes of August 19, 2025 Meeting

Thanks to many who came out despite the rain last night. We had a productive meeting. We generally approved the mission statement and worked on identifying areas of focus for sub-committees. We agreed that our goal was to find a good balance between the wellbeing of the deer, the residents, and the ecosystem.

I want to emphasize that these working groups are not exclusive or invitation-only. You were put on this list because you voiced an interest in taking a more active role in managing BL's deer population, either in your survey response or in individual conversation with an ad hoc committee member. We welcome anyone in the neighborhood who wants to volunteer, so please spread the word and share the emails. We especially want to encourage representation from each of our HOAs.

If you missed the meeting and want to volunteer for a committee, please let me know by email or text.

The ideas generated for each committee and those already volunteering are as follows:

Education

This committee will have the most work that can be done immediately.

  1. Contact Ellie Hanson or Ben McCullar in the Urban Wildlife Division of Ga. Dept of Natural Resources (DNR) to set up an educational opportunity focusing on how individuals can keep deer at bay (plantings, barriers, etc), and the pros and cons of actions on the community level.
  2. Set up a meet-and-greet with candidates for BL City Council (election in November) to answer questions about deer issues.
  3. Collect lists and links of information about interactions with deer in urban areas.
  4. Raise awareness of the ordinance prohibiting feeding the deer, as well the drawbacks to feeding wild animals.
  5. Create an "elevator speech" to explain the reason for addressing the deer population; this will help as people talk to neighbors about why "doing nothing" is not an option.
  6. Incorporate education about the ongoing nature of this problem. It's ongoing, not one-and-done.

Volunteers so far:

Government Collaboration (previously called Community Outreach)

  1. Create a specific proposal to present to BL city council about ways to work together on the deer issue.
  2. Advocate for a budget from BL city council for deer management.
  3. Reach out to the Georgia Piedmont Land Trust about collaborative efforts to improve the health of the Greenspace.
  4. Create a relationship/information conduit with the leaders of Peachtree Corners' deer management efforts.

Volunteers so far:

Data Research and Collection

  1. Reach out to Ben McCullar about the possibility of DNR conducting a drone count of deer this winter.
  2. Research options being tried in other Georgia communities, as well as neighboring states (Kristen has a contact in Alabama DNR; Alan Lankford knows a UGA eco-biologist specializing in deer management; Gary Volino has DNR contact who approved license to cull geese.
  3. Research the current law in BL and in GA re weapons discharge, hunting, DNR license requirements, the use of a referendum to address the deer issue, etc.
  4. Collect list of organizations addressing this problem. Include programs like Hunters for the Hungry.

Volunteers so far:

Leadership Team

We still need representation from Hermitage, Berkeley Walk, Habersham, Berkeley Commons, River Mansions on the leadership team- think about volunteering or put out the word! Anyone interested should contact Karen Geiger or Susan Hanson.

Volunteers so far:

Thank you again for your interest and commitment to the wellbeing of everyone (and everything) in Berkeley Lake,

Karen Geiger