Urban deer still safe in Kelowna as council rules out cull

KELOWNA – Urban deer in the city can go about their business knowing they’re safe from any kind of city-sponsored deer cull.

Despite a petition demanding action, Kelowna councillors on Monday followed staff advice and opted for membership in WildSafe B.C., an education and advocacy organization dedicated to reducing human conflicts with wildlife.

Parks service manager Blair Stewart in a report to council noted calls to the city about problem deer jumped in the last two years but still amounts to just a few dozen calls.

Most calls have been related to damaged lawns and gardens with a couple related to aggression towards pets, Stewart said.

Coun. Brad Sieben said the deer he sees on a regular basis do seem less shy than before but stopped short of calling them aggressive.

“From my perspective, (the complaints are) from the difference in behaviour,” he said. “I see them almost on a daily basis but they don’t move on like they used to when I get in my car.”

Coun. Charlie Hodge was concerned only that WildSafe B.C. be an educational group only and not involved in animal culls.

Coun. Luke Stack said whatever action council takes, it should not take away from animal control as being a provincial responsibility.

“This needs to be laid squarely with the province,” he said. “It’s a big job and needs to remain with the province.”

Stewart told councillors relief may be coming as the province tinkers with hunting regulations and expanding hunting opportunities in the areas around the city.

Councillors wasted little time discussing a deer cull other than to indicate tthey did not want to see one take place.


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John McDonald

John began life as a journalist through the Other Press, the independent student newspaper for Douglas College in New Westminster. The fluid nature of student journalism meant he was soon running the place, learning on the fly how to publish a newspaper.

It wasn’t until he moved to Kelowna he broke into the mainstream media, working for Okanagan Sunday, then the Kelowna Daily Courier and Okanagan Saturday doing news graphics and page layout. He carried on with the Kelowna Capital News, covering health and education while also working on special projects, including the design and launch of a mass market daily newspaper. After 12 years there, John rejoined the Kelowna Daily Courier as editor of the Westside Weekly, directing news coverage as the Westside became West Kelowna.

But digital media beckoned and John joined Kelowna.com as assistant editor and reporter, riding the start-up as it at first soared then went down in flames. Now John is turning dirt as city hall reporter for iNFOnews.ca where he brings his long experience to bear on the civic issues of the day.

If you have a story you think people should know about, email John at jmcdonald@infonews.ca

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