An independent group of Berkeley Lake residents became active in Spring 2025 to assist in the management of our wildlife, specifically deer. These volunteers will focus initially on the overpopulation of deer and associated challenges and threats posed to the environment, pets and our citizens.
The role and responsibilities will be to educate, advise, coordinate and recommend steps to city representatives and residents on key wildlife (deer) management issues, to safeguard our residents and protect natural environment.
Berkeley Lake Wildlife Advisory Council (BLWAC) will communicate with residents to provide important information through a variety of channels: Mayor’s Message, Berkeley Lake Community Forum Facebook Page, HOA Boards, and a community website to inform residents and solicit input from the community.
Video provided by Jill Rice
Permission form to allow bow hunting on your property;
Georgia law concerning limits of liability for homeowner
The Dept of Natural Resources Urban Wildlife Program provides answers to questions about bow-hunting of deer in urban areas in Georgia
Read more...Overview of DNR's community-led urban deer management initiative focusing on bow-hunting to address overpopulation
Read more...Table of the options for controlling deer populations
Read more...Options to prevent local deer browsing your plants include a variety of tactics; some that work well and others that don’t. Some are expensive while others cost nothing but a little ingenuity on your part. Some you’ve maybe tried and others are brand new ideas.
Read more...A list of resources outlining the actions municipalities, the state (Georgia DNR), the federal government (USDA), private entities, and homeowners can undertake to address the deer population. The list includes the contract information for each entity.
Read more...The CDMA is a community-led nonprofit organization aimed to help coordinate a community's efforts to mitigate the problems associated with deer over-population along the Chattahoochee Corridor.
Read more...After a survey of Peachtree Corners (PTC) residents indicated that deer densities within the city have surpassed acceptable levels, the city conducted a scientific deer survey to determine the deer population and
develop management goals. This report outlines methodology, results, and recommendations for future action. One takeaway for Berkeley Lake is that PTC has 8 times more deer (193 per square mile) than the recommended limit (25 deer per square mile).
Results from the 2024 Berkeley Lake Deer Survey. In response to growing concerns about local wildlife, an ad hoc group of citizens from the City of Berkeley Lake conducted a survey to better understand resident experiences and perceptions regarding the deer population. Survey Monkey was used to collect and analyze the survey responses.
Read more...Dept of Natural Resources powerpoint addresses how we got to this point and what our options are to control urban deer populations.
Read more...This 2008 Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources booklet is intended to provide a source of information for handling deer damage problems and focuses on non-lethal deterrents.
Read more...A concise USDA document to help communities think through their options to address deer overabundance.
Read more...Sample Deer Management Plan from the USDA Wildlife Services (with recipient community information redacted).
Read more...This document is a 3-part article on the history of Berkeley Lake and the restoration of the dam along with the fishery. This was created by Steven Seitz in 2017 and submitted to Pond Boss magazine for USA publication / distribution.
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