About 60 attend wildlife meeting

Nearly 60 Libby residents and City Council members filled the Ponderosa Room on Thursday to hear wildlife biologists’ insights and testify why residents should and should not be concerned about wildlife within city limits.

Wildlife Biologists Tonya Chilton-Radandt and Kim Annis discussed the residents’ options about deer, turkey, lions and even bear population in and around Libby.

In the end, the women made it clear, they were there to assist residents in any way they can. However, if a new ordinance is what residents are seeking, they must go through the process — through their city government.

Councilwoman Peggy Williams, who is chairwoman of the City Council’s Ordinance Committee, said as that committee works to update its animal ordinance, it will look at an addendum to include penalties for feeding wildlife within city limits.

“It is something we are talking about,” Williams said. 

The biologists each provided PowerPoint presentations pertaining to their specialties: Chilton-Radandt about deer, turkeys, lions and most other wildlife other than bears, and Annis’ presentation was about bears.

The women brought extensive literature with them about the dealing with nuisance wildlife and each offered their business cards with contact information: Annis, 291-1320; Chilton-Radant, 293-2235. 

Attendance was just about split even pro and con with deer populations within Libby.

Kelly O’Brien of 313 Colorado St. was a vocal critic of deer within the city, claiming a neighbor’s dog was injured by an aggressive stomping deer.

Williams concluded, saying her committee is working with City Attorney Jim Reintsma on “bringing the city ordinance into compliance with feeding wildlife within the city.”