REQUEST FOR DIRECTION
DATE: December 2nd, 2019 Report No. CSS-19-014
TO: Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Blair McDonald, Director of Community Safety Services
SUBJECT:
Title
Deer Management Update
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ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
Does Council wish to take further action relating to Deer Management prior to reviewing the results of the current immuno-contraception study being conducted in Oak Bay?
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That the Committee of the Whole receives Staff Report No. CSS-19-014 for information, provide any additional direction to staff as the COTW considers advisable, and direct staff to prepare a report for Council's consideration.
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BACKGROUND:
In 2016 Esquimalt embarked on the first phases of a deer management strategy. As part of its Deer Management Strategy, the Township completed a community survey in October of 2016 to better understand resident's attitudes in relation to urban deer. Additionally, the Township is in the midst of its third in a series of annual "deer count" as well as conducting an ongoing Public Awareness campaign.
In March of 2019, Council passed a Notice of Motion containing the following three resolutions:
1. That the Township seek BC government approval to develop and implement, working with the UWSS and drawing upon the Oak Bay approach, an immuno-contraception strategy to manage and gradually reduce the deer population in Esquimalt.
2. That the Township seek DND agreement to design and implement an immuno-contraception strategy that would complement and align with the Township's approach.
3. That the Township advocate with the Capital Regional District for the development and implementation of a region-wide (or sub-region-wide, e.g., Esquimalt, Victoria, View Royal, Saanich and Oak Bay) deer management strategy based on, in part, immuno-contraception.
ISSUES:
Staff consulted with the Urban Wildlife Stewardship Society (UWSS), which is primarily a volunteer organization, about the po...
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