Mayor's Deer Update Message

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Update on the CRD Deer Management Strategy Oak Bay pilot:

Public safety and reducing deer/human conflict continues to be the primary focus for Oak Bay Council.

Over the summer we distributed 2 CRD’s brochures in the Oak Bay News - these brochures provided Oak Bay residents with information on how to share our neighbourhood safely and responsibly with the growing number of black-tailed deer in our community – a problem that is impacting public safety in communities throughout the Capital Region.

Even with good preventative information however, our community continues to see a growing number of deer in our neighbourhoods and on our streets.

We have several years of data now that shows a disturbing trend where more and more deer are being killed on our streets and in our yards due to deer/human conflicts.

40 deer died last year in Oak Bay as a result of deer vehicle or collisions, fence impaling or unknown injuries.

This was almost double the number of deer that died in 2012 and already, as of October 1, 29 deer had lost their lives in our community.

The CRD pilot program that Oak Bay has embarked on is truly uncharted waters. We are learning as we go and as promised, we are continuing to listen to Oak Bay residents to ensure that our actions reflect the wishes of the communities.

The CRD has completed a deer count throughout the municipality. They employed a system recommended by the Provincial staff who are responsible for wildlife management and while the results are telling, they are not scientific. What the count does is represent a benchmark for future years enabling us to get a sense of the deer population by recording deer sightings. Until now, we have sadly only had a recording of deer fatalities.

The count also informs the permit application that must be completed and submitted to the provincial government by the municipality in order to move forward with population reduction measures. Staff are preparing the permit application and will be submitting it this fall requesting permission to cull up to 25 deer.

It is up to the provincial government to determine if they will issue a permit or not.

As we move through this process with the CRD the challenges and obstacles become more complex and the responsibilities increase along with them.

We are breaking new ground in this area and while certainty would be a welcomed component of this initiative, the real-time learning is invaluable as we move forward and for those municipalities who are watching closely and who may follow us.

Proceeding with a cull is not going to be easy. I believe that it is important to provide Oak Bay citizens with as much factual information as possible. This means that we must now prepare to discuss the options available to Oak Bay when it comes to population reduction measures.

None of us on Council are wildlife experts or hunters. As an urban population, those of us who eat meat have no problem picking it up at the local grocery store or heading to our favorite butchers. Most of us want to know that the animal was raised ethically and treated humanely – and beyond that, we don’t get into the details.

The notion of killing an animal in Oak Bay is foreign and may be very uncomfortable for some of our citizens – especially our young ones.

To help with these conversations, I have asked for the support of the provincial wildlife veterinarian Dr. Helen Schwantje – Dr. Schwantje is the provincial authority in this matter – she is also a farmer – she cares deeply and she upholds the ethical treatment of all animals.

Through the Ministry of Forest Lands and Natural Resources, the provincial Ministry that has overall responsibility for wildlife management in the province, Dr. Schwantje has prepared factual information for all of us in Oak Bay that will address what options are available with regard to population reduction. There is really only one option available to urban setting, but it’s important that you have access to the wildlife expert for this determination is not one that will be made by Council.

There still remain several obstacles before we are able to make a firm decision about the cull.

The first is the financial cost of this pilot program. Council signed on with the understanding that it would cost approximately $25K. Since then, a few events have impacted the costs.

The modified clover traps that were to be supplied at no cost from the province were damaged beyond repair (vandalism) – and we are still in discussions with the province to confirm that they will replace these specific traps for our use. The costs for Oak Bay to have these traps built is estimated to be in the neighbourhood of $6,000.00.

We have asked the CRD for a more accurate budget to be completed to reflect estimates that are inclusive of all the elements regarding population reduction from RFP’s for contractor support through to butchering and distribution of meat. There is also the realization that population reduction is a multiyear undertaking so forecasting the necessary costs is an important consideration.

So what does this mean?
Oak Bay is moving forward with its commitment to the CRD’s DMS pilot program. It is going to involve some difficult conversations over the coming months – but these conversations are important as the issue of urban deer is growing and public safety in our neighbourhoods is a primary concern

It is also important that our residents understand that the deer will be treated ethically and humanly and professionally. It’s important that Council is assured of this as well. As I said, this isn’t easy. If it were, we wouldn’t be having any of these discussions.

It is Council’s hope that Oak Bay’s commitment and leadership will be a catalyst for municipalities around the province who are facing similar circumstances to come together and seek support from the Provincial government, as they are responsible for wildlife management in BC - and that we work together – all municipalities in the CRD to act responsibly to protect the citizens in the Capital Region as well as to address the inhumane deer deaths that are occurring on our roads and back yards throughout the south island.

With the increased frequency of cougar spottings, we know that these compounding issues will also continue to evolve.

In the meantime, we will continue to listen to our residents and act accordingly. It is still Council’s belief that the majority of Oak Bay citizens support population reduction as part of the CRD’s DMS should the action be warranted.

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