UVic took on the bunnies. Are Greater Victoria politicians ready to duke it out with Bambi?
Local politicians will decide this week whether they want to dip their toes into the business of managing urban deer populations.
The move comes amid increasing complaints of urban deer chewing up flower and vegetable gardens, leaving droppings in yards and making themselves traffic hazards.
In a report going to Capital Regional District directors on Wednesday, CRD staff say they should start work with the province and community stakeholders to prepare the scope and terms of reference for a deer management plan, including funding options and public consultation.
"I think it's a good thing to do," said View Royal Mayor Graham Hill, who chairs the CRD's planning and protective services committee that is examining the issue.
"Increasingly, anxiety and concerns are being expressed by lots of people about both the risk to the animals and the risk to the community."
The staff report says a comprehensive management plan could cost between $100,000 and $150,000, but those costs will be better fleshed out once terms of reference are determined.
Research would indicate the best course to significantly reduce the damage would be to first reduce existing deer numbers.
Once numbers are reduced, damage is easier to manage through a variety of techniques ranging from fencing to fertility control.
Administrative measures can also be used, such as landscaping requirements, restricting the feeding and sheltering of deer within city limits, establishing wildlife corridors and regulating hunting.
But the report notes: "The lethal control measures require changes to provincial, CRD and municipal bylaws regarding the use of lethal measures in urban municipalities.
These measures are not widely supported by the public."
Hill said a go-slow approach involving the public is probably the wisest course.
"I think the issues of urban wildlife are a problem," he said. "On the other hand we've already seen the challenges that bunnies on campus can cause, so I, myself, would favour engaging the politicians and the public and the government."
The University of Victoria has been engaged in a program to control its rabbit population for about two years.
A plan to reduce the campus rabbit population to 200 from 1,400 led to protests, calls to the police and court cases.
Now, after more than 100 rabbits were given lethal injections and more than 700 were trapped and relocated to animal sanctuaries, the university is considering going rabbit-free.
Controlling deer is not expected to be any less contentious.
While wildlife control is an area of provincial responsibility, complaints about urban deer are becoming so numerous many municipal politicians say they cannot ignore it.
Oak Bay Mayor Christopher Causton, chairman of the CRD parks committee, says it is important that the CRD speaks for local municipalities on the issue.
"My frustration is that there is no sense of urgency from the province and the rabbit situation at UVic is a good example of how out of control a wild animal situation can get if you don't recognize it and manage it," Causton said in an email.
Hill said the issue is one of provincial legislation as much as it is local bylaw enforcement and local governments are always concerned about assuming new costs.
