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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 3, 2019)
INSIDE 146TH YEAR, NO. 133 DailyAstorian.com // THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019 ONE DOLLAR Roadkill gets new life — as dinner State rules for salvaging elk, deer take effect By KATIE FRANKOWICZ The Daily Astorian I t can happen in a second, just as the deer’s eyes flare green or a flank gleams in the headlights: The sicken- ing thud of impact. Now what? Deer- and elk-related car accidents can be disastrous for both sides. A dent in the car is usually the least of anyone’s concern. But now there is a silver lining. Oregon’s new roadkill regulations allow people to salvage deer or elk accidentally struck by vehicles. Anyone who decides to take roadkill home is doing it at their own risk, though, said Oregon State Police Lt. Andrew Mer- ila. State troopers or fish and wildlife offi- cers will not inspect the meat beforehand. “The danger to the person picking it up cannot be overstated,” said Phil John- son, manager for Shy Ann Meats, a meat processor based in Oregon City. Johnson has processed meat for the state when game has been poached or seized, but he said Shy Ann Meats, which butchers locally raised animals as well as wild game, has decided it will not han- dle roadkill. Katie Frankowicz/The Daily Astorian See Roadkill, Page A7 A deer prepares to cross a road in Astoria in front of traffic. Gearhart wants people to stop feeding elk City concerned about safety By R.J. MARX The Daily Astorian John Dudley Gearhart may ban feeding elk. GEARHART — Spurred by safety concerns, the Gearhart City Council on Wednesday night unani- mously agreed to consider rules prohibiting the feeding of elk and other wildlife. Bebe Michel, a resi- dent, came before the coun- cil in July seeking ways to minimize elk and human interactions. In response, city coun- cilors and staff held a work session before drafting and finally delivering the ordi- nance Wednesday. The proposed ordinance borrows from similar code enacted in Warrenton, which prohibits “allowing food or other attractants” to be placed on public or private property with the intention of luring or feeding wildlife, City Administrator Chad Sweet said. “The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife thought this would be a good start to trying to help our problem,” Sweet said. “Even though we don’t know of any specific feeding here locally, in other communities it does become an issue, with people feeding elk apples and other food.” The ordinance would allow feeding songbirds or squirrels, provided that the food is contained in a feeder which is designed to avoid access by other wildlife. Violation of the ordi- nance would bring a penalty of up to $500, but officials hope they’ll find compliance before issuing fines. Mayor Matt Brown called the rules a “good com- mon-sense first step.” See Elk, Page A7
