NATALIE HARVALA AND Lydia Baumgartner, both of Iron Mountain, visit the deer at City Park in Iron Mountain in August 2023. The Iron Mountain City Council is considering a number of issues a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection raised about conditions in the pen. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo, file)

IRON MOUNTAIN — A recent U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection of the deer pen at Iron Mountain City Park may force the city’s hand in deciding whether to keep the attraction.

Brianna Waldrop, a U.S. Department of Agriculture veterinarian, raised a number of concerns after a visit to the park last week. The city “will have to put a dollar amount” on any requirements to determine if it’s worth continuing to maintain the pen, City Manager Jordan Stanchina said Monday.

A written report, which is not yet in hand, will help distinguish between the “shalls” and the “shoulds,” Stanchina said. But there’s a chance the exhibit could be ordered closed if the city fails to comply, he told the city council.

Waldrop’s list of issues include:

— The condition of the enclosure. There is insufficient shade, a lack of grazing grass, limited shelter, and there are water quality concerns related to the waterfowl in the pond.

— Veterinary program deficiencies. The current plan lacks detail on the administration of treatments and procedures, including emergency care.

— Handling and restraint capabilities. A chute system is recommended to safely separate and restrain deer for medical treatment.

— Record keeping improvements. Dates of births and deaths must be consistently updated and maintained.

In the past year, some area residents have called on the city to eliminate the pen. The council, in turn has raised the possibility of castrating all of the bucks to allow the herd to gradually die off.

Records for the 6-acre deer pen date back to the 1940s. It remains a popular destination for some residents and visitors but others have advocated for converting it to other uses.

The city can’t move or release the deer alive because of the type of licensing it has for the enclosure.

The council held little discussion on the matter Monday, but acknowledged an evaluation will take place once the USDA report is received.