Urban Deer Research Project Successfully Tags 20 Does
The capture and collar phase of an innovative new approach to managing urban deer in Oak Bay wrapped up last month having hit all its targets. Managed by the Victoria-based Urban Wildlife Stewardship Society (UWSS) and powered by a team of scientists, wildlife...
Deer oh Deer
When you think of deer within a city, do you think of the sweet little Bambi out for a walk in the corner park with his mom? Or do you think about a terrifying, aggressive stag with red eyes of fury? In the lovely municipality of Oak Bay, I am taking part in a study...
Update on Deer Tagging Project
Our research team collared 4 does already in Oak Bay this week, we’re proud of how efficient our team of scientists are at getting collars on the deer within a very short time! The does are sedated and assessed through a brief physical exam. They are then fitted with...
Next Phase of Deer Management Plan Starting
Good News! The Urban Wildlife Stewardship Society will begin the next phase of an urban deer management plan to capture and GPS collar 20 does in the District of Oak Bay over the end of February and into early March, weather dependent. The collars will allow the does...
Safe Deer Interactions in the Fall
IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR… …when it’s getting dark earlier, raining often and visibility is poor. When driving it can be harder to see deer (and people) crossing the road. As well, late October and November is the “rutting season,” when bucks can move suddenly and...
Deer-Resistant Gardens
Read how Oak Bay home owners turned their property into a Garry Oak meadow – “Good for the environment and the local ecosystem.” House Beautiful: At home in a restored Garry oak meadow A “natural” garden works well to not only help balance the ecosystem and give back...
Presentation to Victoria Council
The UWSS presented to Victoria Council on July 27, as a follow up to a wide ranging staff report on urban deer management provided to Council. To see the informative PowerPoint and listen to the presentation, click...
Avoiding Close Encounters of the Road Kind
One of the enduring joys for those of us lucky enough to live in the Greater Victoria area is the abundance of green space and wildlife in our community, whether birds, deer or other creatures. But being surrounded by nature requires a different level of awareness...
Oak Bay Update
The following report on Phase One of Oak Bay Deer Plan Management was submitted to Oak Bay Council on June 26, 2017. OPENING STATEMENT BY KRISTY KILPATRICK, UWSS PRESIDENT: Ever since we were asked by Council in November to provide you with a proposal for submission...
BC Approves Funding for Oak Bay/UWSS Deer Management Project
Approval has been granted by the Province of B.C., Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, to provide the District of Oak Bay, in partnership with the Urban Wildlife Stewardship Society (UWSS), with a cost-share grant of $20,000 that will be...
Oak Bay & the UWSS Receive Provincial Funding for First Phase of Urban Deer Research Project!
Announced today by Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. The British Columbia government is providing the District of Oak Bay with $20,000 to support ongoing efforts to control urban deer, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource...
The Mythology & Symbolism of Deer
Last year, Cairine Green (Oak Bay former Councillor and current Heritage Committee Chair) wrote a lovely piece on the mythology of deer. We are re-posting it here as a gift to all of our supporters and readers, with warm thanks to Cairine. Wishing all of you a...