REQUEST FOR DIRECTION
DATE: February 14, 2018 Report No. CSS-18-003
TO: Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Blair McDonald, Director, Community Safety Services
SUBJECT:
Title
Deer Count Results and Deer Management
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ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
After reviewing the Deer Count Report, does Council wish to see any further steps taken in relation to Deer Management?
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That the Committee of the Whole receive Staff Report No. CSS-18-003 for information.
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BACKGROUND:
At the February 10th, 2016 Committee of the Whole meeting, Council considered the topic of Deer Management in Esquimalt and directed staff to work with the Urban Wildlife Stewardship Society (UWSS) to conduct a random survey of Township residents to determine their attitudes relating to Urban Deer. A consultant, Brian Nyberg of Nyberg Wildland Consulting was contracted to develop and conduct the Survey. The Survey was carried out in the fall of 2016.
As a result of the information contained within the Deer Survey, Council directed staff to embark on a public education strategy and also to have a deer count conducted for the Township, and if possible to conduct the count in conjunction with deer counts being undertaken by DND.
In the fall of 2017, a deer count was conducted within the Township by Megan Sakuma at the same time as a separate count occurred on DND lands. The resulting Deer Count Report for the Township of Esquimalt is attached (Attachment #1).
DND has conducted deer counts for the past three years. DND is currently studying the possibility of managing deer population through a contraception program. Township staff have been working closely with DND on the deer management issue and have discussed the possibility of working with DND should they decide to conduct any contraception research. At this point, DND has not decided which direction they will be going in relation to managing their deer population.
ISSUES:
At present, s...
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