Well, it’s been an eventful few days!

PRESENTATION TO CRD

On Wednesday July 22, the UWSS presented to the CRD Planning, Transportation and Protection Services Committee, which has been responsible for the Regional Deer Management Strategy. We requested that the CRD consider committing $35,000 to the UWSS in order to fully complete their urban deer management pilot project.

We were delighted at the encouragement we received from the committee to submit an application for a grant of $35,000 to be considered by the Board.

Vic Derman said “if we are going to intelligently attempt to manage deer, we absolutely have to start out with being able to survey, identify and enumerate the population and then track what happens to that population over time.

Once you have identified the population and are able to track it, then you can evaluate the success of any attempts to manage that population.”

Chair (and Mayor of North Saanich) Alice Finall commended the UWSS for our work. She commented that provincial support revolves around culls and that this humane and more effective management tool “deserves a much better chance”, and that the work of our society could provide direction to the province.

Director Rands endorsed the position of scientists that fencing is the only thing that will fully keep deer out of gardens. As a farmer, he has tried other alternatives such as culling by shooting and fencing is the only thing that has worked.

He said: “I think, from my experience in living with deer on a day-to-day basis, that [our project] has the best chance of success of anything I’ve seen other than fencing”.

Many of the directors said they would support the granting of $35,000 to the UWSS! We will begin the application process today.

OTHER PRESENTERS

The PTPS Committee also heard from Dr. Sara Dubois, Chief Scientific Officer of the BCSPCA, who spoke eloquently on the role of the BCSPCA in protecting wildlife.

Dr. Dubois also urged the CRD to support our work, saying “I suggest you support the Urban Wildlife Stewardship Society because they are doing great work in your community and these are your own community members”. Thank you Sara!

Kelly Carson of DeerSafe, and Marion Cumming, a supporter and original steering committee member, also spoke persuasively to the need for support for non lethal alternatives to lethal culls and endorsed our work. Kelly submitted a petition of over 4000 local signatures against culling.

If you would like to see our 4 minute presentations and the discussion of the committee, please go to the podcast: http://crd.ca.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=454

PRESENTATION TO OAK BAY COUNCIL

On Monday July 20, the UWSS presented to Oak Bay Council along with requesting a grant for our contraception and public education project. After a lengthy discussion and question/answer session, Council passed a motion to grant $5000 to the Urban Wildlife Stewardship Society – $2500 now and $2500 upon receipt of the federal and provincial permits.

The UWSS is very happy that Oak Bay sees value in the work the UWSS is undertaking and thanks the Council for their financial support.

Together, we’re making a difference!

The Urban Wildlife Stewardship Society is very pleased to have been invited to do a presentation to Oak Bay Council on July 20.

Councillor Eric Zhelka introduced a Notice of Motion in May to invite the UWSS to share the knowledge and expertise of their Board of Directors and Science Advisory Group and explore ways to work together on shared objectives.

The UWSS has provided council with the following update:

• Placed 4 weekly ads in the Oak Bay News in the month of June. In an effort to reduce human-deer conflicts, we have used multiple media channels to provide the public with tips on how to drive safely during fawn season in areas where deer are known to cross and where the largest number of vehicle-deer collisions have occurred in the past;

• We have had “Caution” signs made which have been extremely popular, with demand outstripping our supply. Residents from Victoria and Saanich, as well as Oak Bay, have requested these signs;

• The number of vehicle-deer collisions reported is down – The Oak Bay Chief of Police has informed us that the message seems to be “getting out there” with only 4 reported this year to date;

• We have a website, Facebook page and Twitter account, all of which are being actively followed with a great deal of positive feedback;

•  The BC Provincial Veterinarian, Dr. Helen Schwantje, has agreed to provide technical advice to our working group, along with our Scientific Advisory Group, which includes an environmental resource economist and a former director of BC wildlife research;

• The BC SPCA fully endorses both our public education campaign and our contraception program, as do a number of animal rights groups such as DeerSafe, the Deer Protection Society and Animal Alliance.

The UWSS believes that by working co-operatively with Oak Bay Municipality and employing a proven, science-based, cost-effective, non-lethal approach, much of the divisive controversy over deer management in our community will disappear, deer-human conflicts will be reduced, and the deer population will be stabilized and also reduced, with fewer fawns being born each spring. Fewer deer will mean our roads will be safer for all!

Along with slowing down in areas where deer and fawns are known to be, there are other important things to remember during fawn season. As with all species (including humans), mothers will be very protective of their young, especially if they think their babies may be in danger.

If you are out walking and encounter a doe, it is important to respect her natural instinct to protect her fawns, and to give her lots of space. Cross the street, or turn around and take a different route to your destination.

If you are walking a dog, make sure they are on leash, and keep them close to your side. Dogs, particularly if they bark, are the main reason does become anxious, so again, wide berth is important.

Also check your back yards before letting your dog outside, to ensure a doe or her fawns are not inadvertently startled.

If you come across a fawn, DO NOT TOUCH. Does leave their fawns alone for long periods of time. They come back and check on them, and move them around – in the wild, this protects the fawns from predators.  Read some excellent information on what to do if you find a deer fawn.

Remember to slow down and drive cautiously in known deer areas, and be respectful of the maternal instinct – back away and take a detour.