Following the recent successful deer hazing demonstration in Kimberley, Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald is calling on the Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations to make changes to the Wildlife Act to allow aversion conditioning of deer.

“It is clear that local governments need more options in dealing with urban deer,” said Macdonald.  “I believe that we need to modernize the Wildlife Act to allow deer hazing in certain circumstances.”

Deer hazing is currently prohibited by the British Columbia Wildlife Act, but a demonstration was allowed in Kimberley by special permission of the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.

This aversion conditioning is done with trained dogs and handlers, and is considered a safe way to motivate deer to stay out of urban areas.

“I support local municipal councils in their request of government to make this legislative change.  And I’ve indicated to the communities of Invermere, Kimberley and Cranbrook that I will use my position as Opposition critic for Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations to push the minister on this issue.”

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