When life gives you a deer cadaver…
“It turns out – if it’s on your private land (the City of Livonia) won’t come collect it, but if it’s on city property, they will,” [Livonia resident Laura] Engelland said. “So we helped drag the poor guy to the street.”
The issue of dead deer in yards has become a common one. To address this, the City of Livonia recently released a memo emphasizing that homeowners are responsible for managing the disposal of deer carcasses found on their property – which aligns with the policies of many other municipalities.
Can you imagine the scene?
- A deer dies for whatever reasons on city property.
- It’s reported by a concerned resident.
- City workers then silently drive to the site at 3a.m. and drag the cadaver into an unsuspecting random resident’s yard or lawn.
- Pranked resident calls the city.
- City says “it’s your problem.”
- Punked resident and friends drag the cadaver out into the street.
- GOTO 2
But remember, kids…this is America, where the enterprising among us see opportunity where mere mortals see city apathy, maggot farms and carrion-eating scavengers and vermin!
As a result, Gary Cornellier with Respectful Removal LLC found his niche. He disposes of dead deer for a living.
For 10 years, Cornellier has been removing the carcasses himself – and he’s busier than ever.
TBH, I’m not slamming the guy; he got disgusted repeatedly seeing the roadkill and no municipal assistance. My beef (or venison in this case) is with the City of Livonia and other cities that shirk their civic responsibilities.
Seriously, as I personally have not had the unpleasant experience…
- How does your municipality handle such situations?
- Wouldn’t you expect that carcass removal be part of a municipal responsibility to its residents, like garbage disposal or animal control?
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Wouldn’t you expect that carcass removal be part of a municipal responsibility to its residents, like garbage disposal or animal control?
When I lived in New Hampshire, the city didn’t handle garbage disposal. There was a dump that residents could use for free, but they had to take their garbage there themselves or pay a private company to do it. There also wasn’t city water or sewer; I had my own private well and septic tank. I liked things that way. I understand that in a big city, it’s simply not possible for everyone to be self-reliant like that, but I was in a small town, I liked being self-reliant, and I paid lower taxes.
Thus I don’t see why disposing of deer carcasses should necessarily be the responsibility of the city rather than of individual landowners. Either way the landowners pay for it, directly or through property taxes, so I think it makes sense to have some places for the people who prefer to pay higher taxes and rely on the municipal government and other places for the people who prefer to pay lower taxes and rely on themselves. I do suppose having the city do it removes the incentive to be dishonest and drag the deer onto public property rather than dealing with it yourself…
When I lived in New Hampshire
No offense but I asked about municipal responsibilities. What you’re describing is being homeless or survival training. Was there a post office? Did you have a street address? Were the roads paved? That’s not a “small town” you’re describing but most likely what defined as a hamlet, settlement or possibly a commune.
I admire your sense of self-reliance and thanks for chiming in anyway, Mr Nugent.
Are you simply being sarcastic or are you genuinely unfamiliar with the fact that it isn’t unusual for a small town to be organized in the way I described? I wasn’t homeless or living in a commune. I had a nice two-bedroom house in a town of approximately 15,000 people which did have all the things that you’re asking about.
My facetiousness interfered with the sincerity of my questions. I have lived my entire life so far in cities usually with populations at least as large as Livonia (circa 95,000), none of which have had private wells, septic tanks or “a dump that residents could use for free,” so to me, it is unusual for anything larger than a village to be “organized” in the way you described. Your description, though you now say you had paved roads and a street address, still leads me to believe you were living a more rustic lifestyle than I’m used to.
UPDATE: Due to the nature of Lemmy, most of you will probably never see this but I wasn’t sure it merited a new post either, so…
According to a similar article over at wxyz.com, Livonia City Councilman Rob Donovic says city officials aren’t able to come on private property no matter the circumstances.
“It is your responsibility as a private property owner to remove that deer from where it is in your yard to the road and we will come pick it up free of charge,” says Donovic.
Fair enough, I guess. The City of Livonia, in my mind, is not remiss in its municipal duties, although it could be difficult dragging optimistically 88 to 198 lbs of dead doe. The city will dispose of any deer carcasses—most likely the animal control department—and like garbage pick-up, ya just gotta put it curbside then notify city services. Lets hope it’s a timely pick-up on their part or dead deer isn’t going be Livonia’s only wildlife problem.
