Urban deer problems in Penticton to be addressed by new committee

The City of Penticton is forming an Urban Deer Advisory Committee to formulate potential strategies for managing deer in the community.

At the July 15 regular council meeting, staff presented information on the city’s current approach to urban deer management. This includes a combination of public education and partnerships with the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS), WildSafe BC, and the local Conservation Office Service, said Blake Laven, general manager of development services, during a presentation to council.

At that meeting, council passed a motion directing staff to bring back terms of reference for the advisory committee and to explore funding options for developing a long-term urban deer management strategy.

“This is a topic that council and city staff received many pieces of correspondence on, particularly in the fall during running season and in the spring during fawning season, the two times a year when deer tend to be most aggressive,” Laven said.

He noted that the city has long dealt with urban deer issues and has been providing public outreach, managing a dedicated website, and collaborating with regional and provincial partners.

Staff prepared draft terms of reference and followed up with the province regarding a grant program referenced by provincial staff in April, he said. However, the city was informed that the program is no longer available in its previous form.

As a result, staff are recommending that council approve the existing draft terms and amend the financial plan to fund the strategy internally.

“The terms of reference outline the role of the committee, which is to advise council on strategies for managing urban deer in a humane, effective and community-supported manner and the actions that the committee is intended to undertake is assisting in the development of the urban deer management strategy,” Laven said.

Staff recommend forming a seven-person committee, including several technical or subject matter experts. Proposed positions include representatives from the Penticton Indian Band, the Ministry of Environment or Lands, Water and Natural Resources, animal control, the Conservation Office Service, and the BC-SPCA or another animal rights organization.

Two members from the general public would also be included.

The committee is expected to meet monthly—or as needed—through to summer 2026.

Its primary role will be to support the development of the urban deer management strategy, coordinate a provincially required deer count, and guide public engagement.

“We want to make sure that anything that gets done, gets done with the support of the community,” said Laven. “Finally, they will make recommendations on the managing of urban deer in the community, prior to and during the development of the strategy and on early implementation steps.”

The committee will also advise on interim actions the city can take to address urban deer issues and provide input on early steps following adoption of the final strategy.

Development of the strategy will incur costs not currently accounted for in the city’s 2025 business plan. These expenses include hiring subject matter experts, materials for conducting the deer count, and support for community engagement.

Because the provincial government has redirected previously available funding for urban deer management to focus on addressing the Chronic Wasting Disease outbreak in B.C.’s wild deer populations, all expenses will now be covered through city funds.

Staff has recommended allocating $15,000 from general surplus revenues in 2025 to cover these costs.

With council’s approval of the terms of reference, the city will soon begin the call for committee members.

“In the fall, we will have our first meeting,” Laven said. “In the winter, there will be regular committee meetings with a deer count scheduled for the spring of 2026.”

The committee’s final report, including recommendations, is expected by the summer of 2026. The committee would then be disbanded.

Council voted unanimously to approve both the terms of reference and the proposed funding.

— This article was originally published by the Penticton Herald