The Town of Vienna is hoping to buck its deer population with new measures outlawing feeding deer and other wild animals.
A new ordinance in Vienna would make it illegal for anyone to “place, distribute or allow the placement of food, salt, minerals or similar substances to feed or attract deer at any time.”
A report from city staff said the ordinance is connected to concerns about the overall size of the deer population in Vienna.
The new ordinance would also make it unlawful to feed wild animals “in such numbers to cause property damage, endanger any person or wildlife, or create a public health concern.
The ordinance said it would not restrict any agricultural, commercial, noncommercial, or residential plantings, bona fide distribution of food to livestock, or wildlife management activities conducted or authorized by the Department of Wildlife Resources.
The change would also authorize the town manager and chief of police to authorize and conduct deer management operations and exercise deer kill permits with Deer Population Reduction Programs on property owned by the Town of Vienna.
Elsewhere around Fairfax, the County government has said better data and more hunters are needed for its deer-culling efforts.
The proposal is scheduled for review at the Town Council meeting on Monday, April 28.
