The Province is providing grants totalling $36,000 to three communities to support urban deer management projects, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson announced today.

The City of Elkford is receiving $26,000 to support a translocation research trial involving deer from that municipality, along with Invermere, Kimberly and Cranbrook. Translocation refers to the capture and relocation of urban deer to more remote areas. In separate projects, Invermere will receive $6,000 and Cranbrook will receive $4,000 to support ongoing culling efforts.

In December 2015, the Province invited local governments to submit project proposals that focused on urban deer research and mitigation. The funding follows up on the Province’s pledge – made at the Union of BC Municipalities annual convention in September 2015 – to set aside $100,000 a year for urban deer mitigation.

The Province, in conjunction with the newly formed provincial urban deer advisory committee, will review the program with an eye to improving it. The committee includes representatives from the Province, local government, Union of B.C. Municipalities and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The committee was created to provide consistent and authoritative support to local governments dealing with urban deer issues.

Quotes:

Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations –

“The Province is committed to partnering with local governments to facilitate the development of urban deer management solutions. Every community is unique, and strategies for dealing with urban deer are informed by local conditions and community attitudes.”

Dean McKerracher, mayor, District of Elkford –

“Urban deer are becoming a real threat to public safety. People and pets have been injured by deer, and deer related car accidents are on the rise. This funding will allow us to explore a non-lethal option for dealing with urban deal across the region.”

Wesly Graham, acting mayor, City of Cranbrook –

“Urban deer continue to be a problem in the city. We appreciate the financial support of the Province in helping us try to manage our local deer population.”

Gerry Taft, mayor, District of Invermere –

“Like a lot of communities across B.C., Invermere is struggling with the problem of urban deer. We have the unanimous support of council to support a strategic and ongoing cull of urban deer, and this funding will help us move forward and address the issue head on.”

Quick Facts:

• There are about 135,000 mule deer, 128,000 black-tailed deer and more than 100,000 white-tailed deer in B.C.
• The Province manages deer in B.C. and authorizes municipalities to undertake urban deer management actions.
• The Province supports municipalities by providing technical advice, regulatory authority, necessary permits, specialized equipment and other management tools.

Learn More:

To read the Province’s Urban Deer Management Factsheet, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/factsheet-urban-deer-management-in-bc

Backgrounder attached.