By Russ Tarby
Contributing Writer
For more than two decades Liverpool residents have asked village government to do something about nuisance wildlife.
The most recent request was made on July 20 at the monthly meeting of the village of Liverpool Board of Trustees.
Alder Street resident Ben Lees appeared before the board to complain about woodchucks invading his neighborhood.
While woodchucks — also known as groundhogs — have long plagued the village, skunks have drawn the lion’s share of complaints over the years. In August 2008, for instance, several Third Street residents appeared before the village board to complain about skunks. In April 2011 Liverpool Police officers shot and killed two skunks that had been behaving strangely in broad daylight.
Since 2004 when village trapper Ken Bentz retired after 16 years on the job, villagers bothered by nuisance critters were told to call the town of Salina’s licensed trapper. At the end of last year, however, Walker Wildlife Solutions – which had been trapping in Salina since 2015 — decided against renewing its contract.
“When we sent Walker the contract, he advised that he could no longer provide the services,” said Town Supervisor Colleen Gunnip. “We’re required to put the contract out to bid. Since there were no other bidders, we spoke to other trappers and none of them are able to take on this contract.”
When Lees discovered the town would no longer be trapping, he asked the village to fill the void.
In the summer of 2012, the town of Salina animal-nuisance wildlife trapper told villagers he was “overwhelmed” by the extent of the skunk problem across the town and was unable to prioritize village properties threatened by skunks and woodchucks.
As a result, in 2013, Second Street resident Jim Spadafore told the trustees, “I think it’s time for the village of Liverpool to hire their own trapper before a wild animal with rabies attacks a child or a pet.”
He pleaded with the mayor and trustees to hire a wildlife trapper who would focus specifically on the village, but no such action was taken.
Last week, Lees seconded Spadafore’s 7-year-old suggestion, asking the village to hire its own nuisance wildlife trapper.
Trustee Jason Recor will contact the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for a list of trappers.
“He’ll also review our village code in regards to nuisance animal control,” said Village Clerk Mary Ellen Sims.
The trustees — Mayor Gary White, Deputy Mayor Christina Fadden and Trustees Matt Devendorf, Michael LaMontagne and Recor — will revisit the issue at their Aug. 17 meeting.
Public now welcome
Starting with its July 20 trustees’ meeting, the village has reopened its meetings to the public, for the first time in more than three months. Attendees must wear a face mask and practice social distancing.
June police stats
Liverpool Police Chief Don Morris informed the village trustees at their July 20 meeting that officers made 122 traffic stops and issued 103 citations for violations of the state’s vehicle and traffic laws during June. There was one arrest for DWI, and four accidents were investigated. Officers made 142 residential checks last month while investigating a total of 376 complaints, incidents and calls for service.
