Province commits up to $100,000 a year for urban deer management

In response to two recommendations made by the Union of BC Municipalities, the BC government has committed to creating a so-called ‘Provincial Urban Deer Advisory Committee’ as well as spending up to $100,000 for future urban deer management operations.

Those recommendations called for the Province to provide funding to address urban deer management issues and tools.

According to a factsheet provided, urban deer have ‘become a safety concern due to the growing number of conflicts between people and pets, increases in deer-related automobile collisions and the tendency of urban deer to attract predators such as cougars.’

An initial meeting with the Province to address urban deer management took place with a workshop this past January.

That workshop set up the foundation for increased awareness and understanding of policy, legislation, regulation and best practices in managing deer that wander into city limits.

Details on how the funding will be made available are to be worked out as the advisory committee is formed.