Recently, two people resigned from the Capital Regional District's advisory group, which is trying to formulate a deer-management plan. Their complaint seems to be, among other things, that nobody can give them a deer-population number.
Unfortunately, the deer don't participate in the census, and as a taxpayer I don't really want to pay someone to go out and count them.
The fact is, they have become so numerous to be problematic. Not only do they devour gardens and farms, they've become accustomed to people and a danger to people and pets, and without any natural predators their numbers are growing yearly. You don't need an expensive study to know that.
Why not farm them just as we do cattle? Deer and other cloven-hoof mammals are farmed all over the world.
Licensed farmers could safely and harmlessly capture the deer and transport them to their farms where they could live in their natural environment, breed and provide a sustainable source of food.
Allocate a part of it to food kitchens throughout the region and then sell the rest on the open market. What an opportunity in a world where the demand for food is increasing and supplies are declining.
Venison is a nutritional source of lowfat protein. It costs less than beef. Businesses and jobs would be created that in turn would generate more tax dollars.
Local restaurants could offer fresh venison on their menus.
Bob Broughton
Victoria
