Deer issues proving to be a province wide problem
http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_similkameen/keremeosreview/news/60332322.html
Why don’t you join us for dinner? This deer seems to be right at home on this property in Kaleden. Earlier in the day, the deer had straddled a large dog near the house, attempting to pummel it with its hooves. It was later discovered that the deer had a fawn hidden in bushes nearby.
By Steve Arstad - Keremeos Review
Published: September 22, 2009 7:00 PM
A growing problem with deer populations in the town of Oliver is highlighting a problem currently being experienced by other municipalities in the Okanagan and Similkameen.
Oliver homeowners Rocky and Nancy Moore recently brought the matter to that town’s council after seasonal episodes of deer intrusions onto his property caused over $4,500 damage. The deer ate foliage, eroded and flattened landscaping, and fell into their swimming pool, tearing the solar blanket and ruining the liner.
Village council also listened to a delegation from Brian Harris, Wildlife Biologist with the Ministry of Environment discuss possible remedies to nuisance deer. Oliver Mayor Pat Hampson noted that deer were on the increase in town and with the deer was an increase in cougar sightings.
Town council resolved to review options availible to them and post recommendations onto the town website. Hampson also offered to speak to the province about the issue at the upcoming Union of B.C. Municipalities convention.
Other communities are suffering from similar problems.
“There have been a significant number of complaints from Kaleden and Okanagan Falls,” commented Harris, noting that his office had fielded fewer complaints from the Similkameen.
Ten years ago deer were a rare sight in the northern part of Kaleden. Since then, there has been a proliferation of deer fencing erected in the area as orchardists, grape growers, and in some cases, private individuals have attempted to protect their properties from the encroaching deer. In a place like Kaleden, where highway fencing limits the migratory aspects of the animal back into the hills, this has resulted in larger herds foraging in ever shrinking areas.
“Many would choose not to leave, even if they had a choice,” Harris said. “They know they have it pretty good in the community, with excellent forage and no predators.”
In addition to the destruction of landscaping, as well as landscapes through erosion of hillsides, the deer also seem to getting more aggressive, with some people reporting having being attacked.
In the United States, several cases have been documented of deer attacking humans, sometimes fatally. In Rancho Santa Fe, California, 73 year old Ron Dudek died after complications arose from antler wounds to the face, inflicted on him by a male deer Dedek encountered in his garden.
“I have heard of aggressive bucks in the fall,” said Harris, “ but generally it is the does that are aggressive in the spring when looking after the fawns.”
Deer are also known to carry lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, carrying the ticks that transmit these diseases from grassy, wild areas to people’s backyards.
Lawrence Herder of Herder Winery and Vineyards Limited in Keremeos noticed that the previous owner of his property had issues with deer damage to his crops. Herder solved the problem by installing deer fence around the perimeter of his property, a solution generally accepted to be the most effective at keeping deer at bay. But fencing is expensive, and is aesthetically lacking. Many property owners find the cost prohibitive. Besides, other long term issues may result in fencing being totally wrong in terms of being a solution.
“I would estimate that we have had a 20 per cent reduction in the mule deer population in the Similkameen because of deer fencing,” said Ernie Marven, a conservationist with the Grasslands Coalition. He suspects that the fencing has reduced the migratory patterns of the animals to the point where it is affecting the herd - or they have relocated as a result.
Marvin feels that performing controlled burns in areas that open up natural browsing habitat would draw them away from the easy pickings of the valley floor.
“It might take a bit of hunting pressure to force them back into the hills,” he admitted.
Both Marvin and Harris are aware of the pitfalls of any kind of organized cull that might take place to thin the animals’ populations. Harris said that in certain cases, a controlled, limited entry hunt can be organized on a private landowners’ property, if the owners are willing.
“We have a hunt going on right now on a rancher’s property in Okanagan Falls,” Harris said. “The hunts have to meet many specifications, and there aren’t many properties in the Okangan and Similkameen where you can do this.”
Harris further observed that there are new deer damage control products coming out regularly, especially in the U.S.
“A lot of this stuff we can’t get hold of,” Harris said, “I have heard about one product that you apply to the soil that will make plants nearby unpalatable to deer, but would you really want to be adding more chemicals to the environment?”
The Ministry of Environment issues a handout of possible deer solutions for homeowners and agriculturalists, but the guidelines are not always practical for many. Harris said that a consultant is currently preparing a province wide perspective, as the deer problem is not just a local one. It’s happening everywhere.
“It’s not a new discussion,” Harris said, “I wish I had more tools to offer.”
Perhaps a few hunters could write with some suggestions?
http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_similkameen/keremeosreview/news/60332322.html
Why don’t you join us for dinner? This deer seems to be right at home on this property in Kaleden. Earlier in the day, the deer had straddled a large dog near the house, attempting to pummel it with its hooves. It was later discovered that the deer had a fawn hidden in bushes nearby.
By Steve Arstad - Keremeos Review
Published: September 22, 2009 7:00 PM
A growing problem with deer populations in the town of Oliver is highlighting a problem currently being experienced by other municipalities in the Okanagan and Similkameen.
Oliver homeowners Rocky and Nancy Moore recently brought the matter to that town’s council after seasonal episodes of deer intrusions onto his property caused over $4,500 damage. The deer ate foliage, eroded and flattened landscaping, and fell into their swimming pool, tearing the solar blanket and ruining the liner.
Village council also listened to a delegation from Brian Harris, Wildlife Biologist with the Ministry of Environment discuss possible remedies to nuisance deer. Oliver Mayor Pat Hampson noted that deer were on the increase in town and with the deer was an increase in cougar sightings.
Town council resolved to review options availible to them and post recommendations onto the town website. Hampson also offered to speak to the province about the issue at the upcoming Union of B.C. Municipalities convention.
Other communities are suffering from similar problems.
“There have been a significant number of complaints from Kaleden and Okanagan Falls,” commented Harris, noting that his office had fielded fewer complaints from the Similkameen.
Ten years ago deer were a rare sight in the northern part of Kaleden. Since then, there has been a proliferation of deer fencing erected in the area as orchardists, grape growers, and in some cases, private individuals have attempted to protect their properties from the encroaching deer. In a place like Kaleden, where highway fencing limits the migratory aspects of the animal back into the hills, this has resulted in larger herds foraging in ever shrinking areas.
“Many would choose not to leave, even if they had a choice,” Harris said. “They know they have it pretty good in the community, with excellent forage and no predators.”
In addition to the destruction of landscaping, as well as landscapes through erosion of hillsides, the deer also seem to getting more aggressive, with some people reporting having being attacked.
In the United States, several cases have been documented of deer attacking humans, sometimes fatally. In Rancho Santa Fe, California, 73 year old Ron Dudek died after complications arose from antler wounds to the face, inflicted on him by a male deer Dedek encountered in his garden.
“I have heard of aggressive bucks in the fall,” said Harris, “ but generally it is the does that are aggressive in the spring when looking after the fawns.”
Deer are also known to carry lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, carrying the ticks that transmit these diseases from grassy, wild areas to people’s backyards.
Lawrence Herder of Herder Winery and Vineyards Limited in Keremeos noticed that the previous owner of his property had issues with deer damage to his crops. Herder solved the problem by installing deer fence around the perimeter of his property, a solution generally accepted to be the most effective at keeping deer at bay. But fencing is expensive, and is aesthetically lacking. Many property owners find the cost prohibitive. Besides, other long term issues may result in fencing being totally wrong in terms of being a solution.
“I would estimate that we have had a 20 per cent reduction in the mule deer population in the Similkameen because of deer fencing,” said Ernie Marven, a conservationist with the Grasslands Coalition. He suspects that the fencing has reduced the migratory patterns of the animals to the point where it is affecting the herd - or they have relocated as a result.
Marvin feels that performing controlled burns in areas that open up natural browsing habitat would draw them away from the easy pickings of the valley floor.
“It might take a bit of hunting pressure to force them back into the hills,” he admitted.
Both Marvin and Harris are aware of the pitfalls of any kind of organized cull that might take place to thin the animals’ populations. Harris said that in certain cases, a controlled, limited entry hunt can be organized on a private landowners’ property, if the owners are willing.
“We have a hunt going on right now on a rancher’s property in Okanagan Falls,” Harris said. “The hunts have to meet many specifications, and there aren’t many properties in the Okangan and Similkameen where you can do this.”
Harris further observed that there are new deer damage control products coming out regularly, especially in the U.S.
“A lot of this stuff we can’t get hold of,” Harris said, “I have heard about one product that you apply to the soil that will make plants nearby unpalatable to deer, but would you really want to be adding more chemicals to the environment?”
The Ministry of Environment issues a handout of possible deer solutions for homeowners and agriculturalists, but the guidelines are not always practical for many. Harris said that a consultant is currently preparing a province wide perspective, as the deer problem is not just a local one. It’s happening everywhere.
“It’s not a new discussion,” Harris said, “I wish I had more tools to offer.”
Perhaps a few hunters could write with some suggestions?
