Hot Springs is taking steps to manage the city's deer population.

Art Smith, a Game, Fish & Parks wildlife-damage official from Pierre, addressed the Hot Springs City Council Dec. 17, and the council will hold a public hearing Jan. 7 on its ordinance to ban the feeding of deer.

If the ordinance is approved, the penalty for feeding deer in city limits could be a fine of up to $200.

The ordinance is required by the GF&P to demonstrate that city officials are committed to short- and long-term solutions to controlling deer.

Hot Springs officials are also developing a deer-herd management plan.