Wheeling Park Commission to Hear Feedback Regarding Oglebay Deer Population in the Spring
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Oglebay officials will accept community input regarding the deer population at the park sometime during the spring, according to CEO Bob Peckenpaugh.
In the meantime, park officials are working with the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources and wildlife specialists to conduct research and gather information about the park's deer population.
During Monday's Wheeling Park Commission meeting, local attorney and member of the West Virginia Animal Law Committee Karen Kahle sought follow-up regarding the Deer Population Control Task Force she proposed last WPC meeting. Kahle specifically requested a time frame for the development of the group from commission members.
The task force plan was proposed by Kahle on the heels of Oglebay's Nov. 6-8 deer culling. Kahle, who has been an outspoken advocate against the hunt, proposed the task force during Dec. 18's meeting as a way to "bridge the gap" between park leadership and community members who disagreed with the culling.
The goal of the task force would be to research and develop a plan of deer population control at Oglebay, according to Kahle. The "six to nine members" that make up the group would be representatives from Oglebay administration, the community and WV DNR representatives.
"I spoke on Dec. 18 to express that the community would like to have input into what goes on with deer control going forward and asking whether the commission might consider putting together some sort of group that may include community members," said Kahle on Monday.
Kahle informed members that she had "some names and information" for Oglebay officials to use while developing the group and researching population control methods.
Due to feedback from the community, Kahle added she had researched ideas on how to make sure the task force and population control plans were "kept off Oglebay's budget."
Regarding a timeline for establishing a task force, Peckenpaugh explained that "moving forward as far as community input and larger meetings" would not begin until "at least March or April."
In the meantime, he explained that Oglebay has been working with a wildlife biologist and is "expecting a more full report from him in the next month to month and a half." Oglebay has also been in communication with the WV DNR and are trying to coordinate a meeting with the group.
"The work continues by management, but we're not at a point where we want to bring all the constituencies together," summarized Peckenpaugh to Kahle. "When we've got the names and everything from these meetings, we'll make sure that you're the people to get the word out."
WPC chairman Gregory McDermott emphasized that they "welcome" Kahle's and other community members’ input.
"We're all friends and this is a difficult issue," he noted. "We hope to work in harmony with you all."