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District to begin deer cull with caution
District of Invermere council last night (Jan. 10) agreed to proceed with a deer cull as per a provincial government permit allowing for the elimination of 100 mule and/or white-tailed deer from the town’s herd, numbering approximately 300 animals.
However, council included a cancellation clause at 10 deer as a precautionary measure.
“The intent is to observe the process and determine in council’s view whether or not it is humane or not,” reported district chief administrative officer Chris Prosser.
Council awarded the Urban Deer Control Coordinator contract to Larry Mullikin in the amount of $300 plus HST per deer and it authorized a Financial Plan expenditure of up to $35,000 to cover training, administration and contractor costs.
Additionally, council named Bradley Malfair, Eric Rasmussen, and Stan Markham to the Urban Deer Advisory Committee for a two year term commencing immediately. It is still seeking two more citizens to serve on the committee.
Opposition to deer culling has been slowly growing since the City of Cranbrook completed its cull of 25 deer and City of Kimberley council Jan. 9 heard from the Humane Treatment of Urban Wildlife Committee regarding concerns about its 100 animal cull that is getting underway.
“We are getting opposition, but mostly from outside the community,” Prosser told e-KNOW. “We have a lot of interest from private property owners for placement of a trap on their property thus far and the sentiment in the community is that it is necessary to get it under control and then begin other methods including fencing the community,” he said.
The district’s Wildlife Act permit CB11-74239 allows the district to hunt, trap or kill up to (combined) 100 mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) or white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). The permit expires March 15.
Invermere’s Urban Deer Committee recommended to the district that the following actions be undertaken firstly:
1. That a permanent Urban Deer Advisory Committee be established;
2. That the district, in partnership with the province, initiate a trap and cull and a relocation program to reduce the urban deer population;
3. That public education be initiated as a continuing program to provide residents solutions to deer proof their properties, mitigate deer-human conflicts and to reduce the feeding of deer;
4. That administrative processes are created to ensure that procedures are current;
5. Annually review actions completed, status of the deer population and to determine what future deer management options are required.
6. That a long term solution to control and manage deer, such as fencing, be reviewed along with other actions being taken.
Invermere’s report points out a successful cull program that has been ongoing in Helena, Montana since 2008.
The district’s urban deer report can be viewed at:
E-KNOW will be publishing a more comprehensive region-wide look at deer culling this weekend.
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Ian Cobb/e-KNOW