Feb 25, 2015 By David Singersuzanne Elliott 3 min read

After Scott Township commissioners passed a resolution opposing deer culling in Twin Hills Park, Mt. Lebanon officials say they will abide their request not to bait, corral and shoot deer in the park.

“There will be absolutely no deer killing in Scott Township,” said commissioner Bill Wells at the Feb. 24 meeting.

Wells’ statement drew applause from the 10 or so people in attendance, a third of whom came to protest Mt. Lebanon’s plans to reduce the local deer population by having Wildlife Services, LLC herd the animals into corrals and shoot them at close range with suppressed rifles. The aim is to thin the number of deer in hopes of reducing vehicle collisions.

At the suggestion of board president David Jason, the township agreed to send a letter to Mt. Lebanon in opposition to the cull and to say deer hunting is not going to be allowed in Scott; specifically, in Twin Hills Park. The park lies mostly within Scott’s borders, but is managed by Mt. Lebanon Township.

“We were going to use that site, but since Scott is not on board, we’re going to respect their wishes,” said public works superintendent Rudy Sukal.

At a recent Mt. Lebanon meeting, municipal manager Steve Feller told the board of commissioners that a federal rule requiring 1,000-feet setbacks from schools for civilian activity involving guns might complicate plans involving the six public parks and spaces they selected for the corrals. Sukal said they’re simply going to instruct Wildlife Services to move back more within the sites, which include Bird, McNeilly, and Robb Hollow parks and the golf course. A private site at 1300 Bower Hill Road will be used, but the proposed site at Golden Center Living is now in question.

A letter from Golden Living Senior Center Executive Director Benjamin Neil opposing use of their site was sent to Wildlife Specialists.

“Golden Center Living does not authorize deer trapping on our property,” the letter reads. “Our patients and residents enjoy seeing the wildlife … their presence is seen as a positive part of our patient care environment. To remove the deer in the manner proposed … would be very emotionally disruptive for our patients and adversely impact their care.”

Sukal said the contractors had requested the site because of the amount of deer they saw on the property. He said no official decision was made, but commissioners are not likely to seek going after the property at their March 10 meeting. The contract with Wildlife Services runs through March 31, though the permit from the state to conduct the deer culling is valid through September with contractors being paid $500 per deer.

In the meantime, Brian Benner, with Wildlife Specialists, said the company is asking Mt. Lebanon commissioners to consider other private sites along Bower Hill Road and Castle Shannon Boulevard.