Man's best friend or deer's worst enemy?

Chronicle Staff

Published: Wednesday, February 4th, 2009

There may very well be a mountain lion that occasionally wanders into town to find itself a deer to munch on. However, that doesn’t have the City of Custer nearly as concerned as reports that a pack of dogs are allegedly taking down deer in city limits. Rex Harris, community development director for the city, said he has heard of five in the last several months. Among the places the kills have been found are in the northwest part of town, near the tennis courts and the southeast portion of town. “Dog packs can be extremely dangerous in a community,” Harris said. “They become wolves without the fear of man. City council is very concerned.” Marty Mechaley of the Custer County Sheriff’s Department said the department has received three calls since last month about deer being eaten on by dogs. Two were in the 200 block of N. 4th Street, while one was in the 100 block of S. 11th Street. Mechaley said most of the calls get referred back to the city, and no deputy with the department has witnessed a dog pack. He said it is unclear whether it is a pack of dogs taking the deer down, or whether it is dogs stumbling upon a deer that is already dead or dying from an automobile collision or other accident. Local animal control officer Geney Ziolkowski said dog packs are dangerous because they get worked into a frenzy and will go from one animal to another. Dogs that are otherwise docile can become vicious when in a pack, she said. However, Ziolkowski, like Mechaley, said she has not had a pack of dogs reported to her. She has not seen the activity in Custer firsthand, either. “Normally it’s rancher dogs chasing cattle and that type of thing,” she said. “They aren’t doing it for food, they’re doing it for the thrill.” Ziolkowski said unless authorities are alerted as to where the dogs are coming from, there isn’t much that can be done about such activity. “It needs to be handled while it’s happening,” she said. “If you don’t know about them you can’t do anything.” Harris agreed with that sentiment, saying if people let the city know of suspects and times, they can step up enforcement in trying to eliminate the problem. He added the dogs don’t have to necessarily be the type of dogs normally associated with being mean, such as Dobermans and German Shepherds. He also said citizens are expected to keep their dogs controlled and confined, as per city ordinance. “Our citizens need to let us know if they see suspicious dogs or dog activities,” he said. “Be very cautious, as these dogs are frequently family pets you would never suspect.” Ziolkowski said even if there is no such pack running loose in town, it is always a good idea to carry some sort of item that could be used as a weapon when out walking or getting exercise. “You should never go empty handed,” she said. “What can you do with your hands if there is nothing in them?”