REQUEST FOR DECISION
DATE: August 24, 2020 Report No. CSS-20-014
TO: Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Blair McDonald, Director of Community Safety Services
SUBJECT:
Title
Deer Study Proposal
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That Council review the Deer Study Proposal and direct staff to enter into a contract with the proponent to engage in a deer immunocontraception study in the Township for the upcoming three years.
Body
RELEVANT POLICY:
Animal Management Bylaw, 2015, No. 2841
STRATEGIC RELEVANCE:
Healthy, Livable and Diverse Community; control deer in partnership with other governments; seek Provincial approval of deer management strategy, subsequent to the results of the Oak Bay pilot project.
BACKGROUND:
At the March 16, 2020 Council meeting, Council passed the following motion:
MOTION # 1:
1) That Esquimalt staff work with Dr Fisher and UWSS to determine ways that concurrent work done in Esquimalt may inform and assist but not duplicate the Oak Bay [OB] Project;
2) That the Township of Esquimalt initiate conversations with Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations to inform future applications to Province regarding deer research and management, recognizing First Nation consultation is a Provincial responsibility;
3) That the Township of Esquimalt complete application to the Province to allow for a Deer study and immuno-contraception through the above information for potential ability to action in the fall of 2020, and to submit for funding assistance through PUDOC (Provincial Urban Deer Cost Share Program) at the fall 2020 intake.
The proposal before Council is for a study of the efficacy of immunocontraception of Black-Tailed deer.
ISSUES:
1. Rationale for Selected Option
In July of 2020, staff received a report from Dr. Jason Fisher entitled "Black-Tailed Deer Population Size and Management in Esquimalt, British Columbia" (attachment #1). The report lays out the processes, procedures and costs to conduct...
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