Friday, September 19, 2014

Oak Bay Struggles to Make Deer Issue ANYTHING But Gardening Issue


Poop in parks is the newest deer issue


Oak Bay continues to take baby steps toward a deer cull.
In February, 10 clover traps were stolen from a government compound in Cranbrook where they had just been transferred after use for a cull in the District of Elkford. Six were found nearby, most burned and destroyed. The theft delayed Kimberley’s planned cull of up to 30 mule deer and put a significant dent in the traps the province has to loan to communities licensed to cull.
Oak Bay staff are now preparing a report for council which will take a look at options for the district, should it decide to proceed with the cull.
“It’s not just about a cull,” said Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen. “It’s a deer management pilot project. We’ve been working with the CRD. We have terms of reference to work through to complete the preliminary steps. Staff will report to council in September to chart the way forward.”
The lack of traps available for use from the provincial government has thrown a wrench into the planned fall cull.
“We’ve certainly had challenges. There are no traps, what do we do about that? Build our own, buy our own, wait for the provincial government? That’s something council will have to decide,” Jensen said.
The Capital Regional District has extended the mandate of the project to early 2015, allowing the pilot project to continue. “We continue to have support from the CRD. It’s a complex project, an important part of the process is the CRD evaluation of the process,” said Jensen.
“It’s a critical part of the whole process. It will allow other communities in the CRD to make their own decisions based on what happens in Oak Bay.”
As part of the overall management project, new signage has been put up on Lansdowne and Cadboro Bay roads. “There are two signs northbound and two signs southbound,” said Jensen. “Where the hot spots are.”
The speed reader board was also moved to a location on Cadboro Bay Road.
Despite vocal opposition from many Oak Bay residents, Jensen still believes a cull is part of the answer to controlling the deer population and reducing health and safety risks.
“In terms of last year, we had all time high numbers of deer that died on our roads and in people’s yards – this year, we’re ahead of that at this point. Last year there were 40, at the rate we’re going, we’re probably likely to see more than 50 carcasses collected,” said Jensen.
The mayor continues to get reports from residents about aggressive deer and said deer feces are causing problems in Oak Bay parks.
“Parents and grandparents are reluctant to take their children and grandchildren to the parks because of the presence of deer feces,” he said.
The cost of the cull of up to 25 deer, estimated at $12,500, may now be too low due to the delay, he said. “That is an issue council will have to examine.”
The delay is also expected to make the cull one of the hottest election issues Oak Bay has seen in recent years.
“Everything people are concerned about becomes an election issue,” said Jensen. “I’m assuming all issues will be election issues when it comes down to it.”
Jensen would not say if he will run for mayor again, only that he will make an announcement in September.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Trap trasher pleads guilty

  • posted Sep 16, 2014 at 8:57 AM
One of two people involved with the destruction of deer traps in Cranbrook in February plead guilty last week in Cranbrook provincial court last week.
Lucky Sikora, who was charged with mischief to property over $5,000 after the incident, was fined $800 and must pay a victim surcharge of $240 and restitution of $1,000 after pleading guilty, as ordered by Justice Ron Webb. The fines must be paid within one year.
Another charge of disguising face with intent to commit an offence was stayed.
Devin Kazakoff, who was also charged with the same offences in connection to the  destruction of the same deer traps, will appear in Cranbrook provincial court on Oct. 21.
In February, 10 deer traps were stolen from a government building in Cranbrook. Six were destroyed by fire in the bush, while three were never recovered. One was eventually located.
The city of Kimberley had to cancel a planned deer cull after the traps were destroyed, as the plan relied on their use to capture urban deer.