Delinquent deer to get one-way ticket out of Penticton as seek sidesteps cull

PENTICTON, B.C. – You can lead a deer to pasture, but can you make it stay?

That’s the question for officials in Penticton, B.C., as they launch a pilot program they hope will relocate problem deer and avoid the need for a cull.

Penticton Mayor Gary Litke says up to $15,000 has been earmarked to move habituated deer to pasture land owned by the Penticton Indian band, about 10 kilometres southwest of the city.

The delinquent deer will be tagged for monitoring and Litke hopes they don’t return, because that could force the city to reconsider plans to euthanize the animals.

Aggressive deer around Penticton have been blamed for attacking people and pets, and the city passed a bylaw in January 2012 prohibiting the feeding of wildlife.

Several southern B.C. communities are dealing with problem deer, and Kimberley is currently conducting a cull, planning to euthanize as many as 30 animals between Feb. 1 and mid-March.

(CKOR)