REQUEST FOR DIRECTION
DATE: February 10, 2016 Report No. CSS-16-002
TO: Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Blair McDonald, Director, Community Safety Services
SUBJECT:
Title
Urban Deer
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ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
What direction does Council wish to take in relation to Urban Deer within the Township?
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That the Committee of the Whole: receive Staff Report CSS-16-002 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 preparing this report, staff conducted significant research with Provincial Biologists, Department of National Defense (DND), Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC), Urban Wildlife Stewardship Society (UWSS), and the Capital Regional District (CRD). In addition, surrounding municipalities and other BC municipalities were consulted; best practices from some municipalities in the United States were also examined. The British Columbia Urban Ungulate Conflict Analysis was also reviewed.
In discussing urban deer (and other wild life) there are three generally accepted measurements of animals in the urban environment. They can go by different names; however the concepts are the same.
1. Biological Carrying Capacity (BCC)
Biological Carrying Capacity is defined as the number of animals in good health that an area of land can support over an extended period. BCC is related to the amount of food in a given area and the suitability of the habitat. Deer in habitats that provide good quality and quantity of food tend to have higher reproductive rates. If reproductive rates are not balanced by mortality (through predation or other means) the BCC of any given area can be exceeded. As deer numbers approach or exceed the BCC, there is a noted loss of local plant species and the physical condition of the deer declines. With the decline in the physica...
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