Sep 11, 2015
The UWSS has two upcoming presentations. On Saturday, September 12, Oak Bay Councillor Eric Zhelka will be hosting his regular “Community Roundtable” and has invited the Urban Wildlife Stewardship Society President Bryan Gates to speak about deer.
Bryan is a former manager of wildlife resources for BC’s Ministry of Environment in the southwestern mainland and a retired registered professional biologist with four decades of experience who has lived in Oak Bay for 40 years.
Bryan worked in environmental management and impact assessment with the BC government for 23 years. His MSc thesis from UBC involved a four-year study of deer on Vancouver Island and during that time he captured and handled over 300 deer.
Date: Saturday, September 12
Time: 12 noon
Location: Oak Bay Library Meeting Room (back of the Library, not the Monterey Centre)
PRESENTATION TO SAANICH COUNCIL
On Monday, September 14, The UWSS has been asked to make a presentation to Saanich Council outlining our work and objectives.
We are very pleased to have such supportive interest from a variety of other jurisdictions including Saanich and Esquimalt!
Date: Monday, September 14
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Council Chambers at the Saanich Municipal Hall, 770 Vernon Ave
Aug 30, 2015
Well, with September just around the corner, it’s time to provide an update on the progress of the UWSS over a busy summer:
SIGN CAMPAIGN
The public sign campaign to urge drivers to slow down and exercise caution at known deer crossings has been very successful. Over 250 signs have now been requested and distributed throughout Greater Victoria, with the majority in Oak Bay. New requests come in every day for signs, and a third print run is being ordered!
PERMIT APPLICATIONS
The applications for the provincial and federal permits have been submitted and are being reviewed by government officials.
Our Working Group and Science Advisory Group continue to work on the logistics of the pilot project while we wait for the permits to work their way through the government system.
SUPPORT FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
Presentations were made to Oak Bay Municipal Council and the CRD Planning, Transportation and Protections Services Committee with the objectives of applying for funding, as well as seeking opportunities to work effectively together on deer management, including public education, human-deer conflict reduction and our immuno-contraception pilot project.
Oak Bay committed $5,000 to the UWSS with $2500 dependent upon receiving the necessary permits and several CRD Directors encouraged us to submit an application for a grant of $35,000. We present to the CRD Finance Committee on Sept. 2 to that end.
ASSISTANCE FROM VOLUNTEERS
Our volunteer list has grown and we are delighted that we have people offering to do everything from delivering signs and sewing deer-calming covers for the Modified Clover Traps, to using their backgrounds in biology to help with the field work – thank you everyone!
FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES
We continue to seek opportunities to explore ways in which we can work together with Oak Bay Council and other municipalities to reduce human-deer conflict and help our communities adapt to sharing space with wildlife;
FALL TIPS
Please continue to check our website. We will soon be providing effective tips on steps you can take during the fall rutting season so that residents, companion animals and deer all remain safe.
Thanks again to everyone for all of your support!
Aug 14, 2015
Camosun College has joined the UWSS efforts to educate drivers of the need to SLOW DOWN and DRIVE SAFELY in areas where we know deer cross – 5 “Caution Expect Deer” signs have been placed by Grounds staff on Camosun College property along Foul Bay Road, where many deer cross.
Thank you Camosun College!
It’s hard to miss the many signs that have been placed along Foul Bay, Henderson, Cedar Hill X Road, Lansdowne and Cadboro Bay Road – it has been a concerted and supported effort to reduce the vehicle-deer accidents in this area, and a huge thank you to all that have requested and placed a sign.
We have now distributed over 175 “Caution” signs, with new requests coming in every day!
Along with Oak Bay residents, citizens from other municipalities have also been requesting and placing signs – in particular, in the Rockland and Richardson areas of Victoria, and the Gordon Head and Cordova Bay Road areas of Saanich.
When drivers see these signs, it is an indication that there have likely been vehicle-deer accidents in that location at some point, and it’s important to SLOW DOWN AND SCAN AHEAD, PARTICULARLY AT DAWN AND DUSK, although deer can be out at almost any time of day.
The reality is that there are many deer crossing roads, and at this time of year there are still fawns and very young ones following behind the does, sometimes at a bit of a distance. Please drive slowly and carefully where you see “Caution – Expect Deer” signs, and wherever you know deer move across the streets.
Let’s reduce the number of accidents and keep our streets safe for all.
