Deer Forest controversy

The former owner of Deer Forest in Coloma is the target of a complaint filed against the animal park by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Spokeswoman Tanya Espinosa tells WSJM Radio the complaint was filed within the past several weeks in the federal court system and is based on several complaints that were filed by the public over the course of several years. Espinosa says it’s a civil case, not a criminal one, and current park managers Jon Stolarz and his wife Amy Gadberry are not included. John Modica of Chicago owns the land and is the former park operator, and could be hit with fines. Another investigation is also underway by the USDA into Deer Forest, and pressure has been put on Coloma Township officials to make moves to shut it down. A group of people is calling on the township to revoke the grandfathered status for Deer Forest that allows it to be run as an animal park, which could force its closure.  (MRN)