Deer Management

On December 12, 2012, the CRD Board supported the recommendations in staff report PPS/RP 2012-37. The recommendation is as follows:

a. Adopt the framework for a Regional Deer Management Strategy set out in the attachments to Report No PPS/RP 2012-37

b. Authorize staff to share the report with municipalities to gain concurrence as well as cooperation to implement the management measures within their jurisdiction; and

c. Approve the additional budget necessary to support the proposed CRD role in implementing a regional deer management strategy in 2013.

Staff level meetings will be held with the Peninsula Municipalities (including Saanich) first regarding the report information. Presentations to Councils will follow to outline the potential implementation of management measures at the local level.

• December Meeting Agenda (PDF )
• December Staff Report (PDF )

 

Public Submissions November 28-December 11

• Public Submissions (PDF )
• No out of region submissions for this time period

The Regional Deer Management Strategy (RDMS) recommended by the Citizens Advisory Group (CAG) was discussed by the CRD Planning, Transportation & Protective Services Committee (PT&PSC), which directed staff to bring the report forward to the Board at their regular meeting on December 12, 2012. Public delegations had an opportunity to speak to Committee.

 

The PT&PSC recommended that the November staff report be circulated to municipalities for feedback for feedback regarding their willingness to implement measures under their jurisdiction. In addition, the report outlines what the ongoing role of the region could be if the Board adopts the proposed framework.

• November Meeting Agenda (PDF )
• November Staff Report (PDF )

 

Staff Report Summary

Under prior direction of the PT&PSC, CRD staff convened a meeting among inter-jurisdictional partners on October 3, 2012. Staff representatives from CRD municipalities and Electoral Areas, and Provincial government (Federal government and First Nations were unable to attend) met to determine what it would take to implement the CAG recommendations and to then report back to the PT&PSC. Input on the CAG’s recommendations is detailed in the November 28, 2012 staff report and attachments and is summarized as follows:

Recommended options are separated into those with potential to be implemented and those that are considered impractical or unfeasible (mainly due to public safety and resourcing). For those that have potential, next steps of different levels of government and actions required to begin implementation are identified. In the case of population control measures, provincial approval is required but conflict reduction measures need to be in place prior to qualifying for such approval. Conflict reduction measures are largely within the jurisdiction of local governments.

 

Public Submissions September 4 - November 27

• Public Submissions (PDF )
• Out of Region Submissions (PDF )

The Citizens Advisory Group recommendations were received for information at the PT&PSC special meeting on September 5, 2012. The Committee would like to thank the Citizens Advisory Group and the Expert Resource Working Group for their dedicated effort and voluntary time spent preparing their recommendations.

• Regional Deer Management Strategy Recommendations (8MB PDF )

A Staff Report on the CAGs recommendations was also submitted to the PT&PSC at the September 5 meeting:

• Deer Management Strategy Staff Report (PDF )

 

The following motion was passed by the PT&PSC:

MOVED by Director Derman, SECONDED by Director Blackwell,

1. That the Citizens Advisory Group and the Expert Resource Working Group be thanked for their dedicated effort and voluntary time spent preparing the Regional Deer Management Strategy; and
2. That the Regional Deer Management Strategy be received for information and that Regional Planning staff be directed to convene staff representatives from CRD municipalities, electoral areas, the Provincial and Federal governments and First Nations to determine how to partner on implementing the recommended management options.
3. That Regional Planning staff report back to Committee this fall.

CARRIED

 

Delegations to PT&PSC Meeting

Requests to address the special PT&PSC meeting on Sept. 19, 2012 regarding the CAG's recommendations could not be accepted as the recommendations were not an item on the agenda. (CRD Board Procedures Bylaw 3708, Part 3, Section 12 (1): a Committee may, by resolution, allow delegations to address a meeting on the subject of an agenda item).

 

The matter will return to the Committee in November and notice will be posted to this page with an indication of whether delegations will be received at that time. Comments can be submitted by email (Directors will be viewing the public submissions) or ask to be added to our contact list to receive ongoing updates on the process.

To help guide the CAG on the development of a management strategy, online feedback forms have been used to gather input. The feedback forms fulfil the requirements of the communications and consultation section of the Terms of Reference which emphasizes an open and transparent process that has early and ongoing communications and consultation through an on-line campaign. The CAG has full knowledge of how the form is being administered and the non-representative nature of the input/feedback. The feedback is another source of information for the CAG to use at their discretion.

 

The online venue also provides the public with an opportunity to follow CAG progress without having to attend the meetings. The online feedback form content is reviewed by the CAG and updated weekly in accordance with the CAG’s progress and in order to provide timely information out to the public and feedback to the CAG.

 

After the CAG provides its recommendations by way of the Regional Deer Management Strategy, the Board has the option of conducting a regional survey by a professional firm to provide a statistical approach to determining public opinion on the recommended deer management options and measures.

Submissions: August 28 - September 4

• Public Submissions (PDF )
• No out of region submissions for this time period

 

CAG meeting, August 27

• Agenda (PDF )

 

Submissions: August 24 - 27

• Public Submissions (PDF )
• No out of region submissions for this time period

 

CAG meeting, August 23

• Agenda (PDF )

 

Submissions: August 9 - 23

• Public Submissions (PDF )
• No out of region submissions for this time period

 

CAG meeting, August 8

• Agenda (PDF )

• Minutes (PDF )

 

The CAG added two more Management Options - Status Quo and Crop Protection. Feedback closed August 8, with results as follows:

• Public Feedback - Crop Protection & Status Quo (PDF )
• Public Feedback - Crop Protection & Status Quo-long form responses (PDF )

 

Submissions: August 2 - 8

• Public Submissions (PDF )
• Out of Region Submissions (PDF )

 

CAG meeting, August 1

• Agenda (PDF )
• Minutes (PDF )

 

Feedback on the fourth set of Management Options - Capture and Relocate & Repellants, closed August 1, with results as follows:

• Public Feedback - Capture and Relocate & Repellants (PDF )
• Public Feedback - Capture and Relocate... long form responses (PDF )

 

Submissions: July 25 - August 1

• Public Submissions (PDF )
• No out of region submissions for this time period

CAG meeting, July 24

• Agenda (PDF )
• Minutes (PDF )

 

Feedback on the third set of Management Options - Public Education, Controlled Public Hunt, Professional Sharpshooting, Immunocontraceptives and Deer-Vehicle Collision Mitigation - closed July 24 with responses as follows:

• Public Feedback (PDF )
• Public Feedback - long form responses (PDF )

 

Submissions: July 19 - 24

• Public Submissions (PDF )
• Out of Region Submissions (PDF )

 

A letter of resignation from two CAG members was received by the CAG Chair on July 8, 2012. The Board appointed Mr. Glenn Jim to the CAG on July 19, 2012.

 

CAG meeting, July 18

• Agenda (PDF )
• Minutes (PDF )

 

Feedback on the CAG’s second set of Management Options - Capture & Euthanize - closed July 18 with results as follows:

• Public Feedback - Capture & Euthanize (PDF )
• Public Feedback - Capture & Euthanize, long form responses (PDF )

 

Submissions: July 12 - 18

• Public Submissions (PDF )
• Out of Region Submissions (PDF )

 

CAG meeting, July 11

• Agenda (PDF )
• Minutes (PDF )

 

Feedback on the CAG’s first set of Management Options - Hazing & Frightening, Fencing and Landscaping Alternatives closed July 11 with results as follows:

• Public Feedback - Hazing & Frightening, Fencing and Landscaping (PDF )
• Public Feedback - Hazing & Frightening, Fencing and Landscaping, long form (PDF )

 

Submissions: July 5 - 11

• Public Submissions (PDF )
• Out of Region Submissions (PDF )

 

CAG meeting, July 4

• Agenda (PDF )
• Minutes (PDF )

 

Feedback on the CAG’s Evaluation Criteria closed July 4 with results as follows:

• Public Feedback - Evaluation Criteria (PDF )
• Public Feedback - Evaluation Criteria, long form (PDF )

 

Submissions: June 28 - 4

• Public Submissions (PDF )
• No out of Region Submission for this time period

CAG meeting, June 27

• Agenda (PDF )
• Minutes (PDF )

 

Submissions: June 20 - 27

• Public Submissions (PDF )

• Out of Region Submissions (PDF )

 

June 21 - CAG launches online feedback tool to gather input on the Principles, Goals and Objectives to direct the strategy's development. Closed June 27 with results as follows:

• Public Feedback - Principles, Goals and Objectives (PDF )
• Public Feedback - Principles, Goals and Objectives, long form (PDF )
  

 

CAG meeting, June 19

• Agenda (PDF )
• Minutes (PDF )

 

Submissions: June 13 - 19

• Public Submissions (PDF )
• Out of Region Submissions (PDF )

 

CAG meeting, June 12

• Agenda (PDF )
• Minutes (PDF )

 

Submissions: June 6 - 12

• Public Submissions (PDF )
• Out of Region Submissions (PDF )

 

CAG meeting, June 5

• Agenda (PDF )
• Minutes (PDF )
• Principles, Goals and Objectives (PDF )
• Regional Deer Management Strategy presentation (PDF )
  Orlando Schmidt, Regional Manager, Ministry of Agriculture
• Deer Inventory presentation (PDF )
  Kim Brunt, Senior Wildlife Biologist, Ministry of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations

 

Submissions: May 17 - June 5

• Public Submissions (PDF )
• Out of Region Submissions (PDF )

CAG meeting, May 16

• Agenda (PDF )
• Minutes (PDF )

 

Submissions: May 9 - 16

• Public Submissions (PDF )
• Out of Region Submissions (PDF )

 

CAG meeting, May 9

• Agenda (PDF )
• Minutes (PDF )

 

Submissions: April 12 - May 8

• Public Submissions (PDF )
• Out of Region Submissions (PDF )

The CRD Board has appointed an 11 member Citizens Advisory Group (CAG) to guide the development of a regional deer management strategy and action plan to address deer-human conflicts in the region. Applicants were selected and recommended to the Board by the Planning, Transportation & Protective Services Committee.

 

The CAG consists of five members from the Core municipalities, four from the Peninsula municipalities, and two from the West Shore, and includes representation from commercial farmers and First Nations. The appointees are: Richard Christiansen, Wendy Fox, Lisa Kadonaga, Sol Kinnis, Terry Mitchell, Robert Moody, Patrick O'Rourke, Jocelyn Skrlac, Philip Tom, Kerri Ward, Robin Bassett. A Chair will be selected by the group at their first meeting.

 

The CAG will make its recommendations in July, 2012 and will be supported by an Expert Resource Working Group (EWRG) which will provide technical and scientific expertise. The group’s first priority will be to address agricultural-deer conflicts.

 

All submissions to the CAG will continue to be received through the deer management email, or by mail to CRD Regional Planning.

The Board supports Terms of Reference for Regional Deer Management and the formation of a Citizens Advisory Group.

• Regional Deer Management Strategy Terms of Reference (PDF )
• Citizens Advisory Group Terms of Reference (PDF )
• Minutes (PDF )

 

• Public Submissions February 22 - March 13 (26MB PDF )

• February 22, 2012 staff report report to PTPS Committee (PDF )

Appendices:

• Regional Deer Management Strategy Proposed Terms of Reference (PDF )
• Key Decisions (PDF )
• Minutes (PDF )

 

• Public submissions November 9 - February 21, 2011 (PDF )

On November 9, 2011, staff were directed by the CRD Board to develop an action oriented terms of reference for a CRD Deer Management Plan and report back to the CRD Board in early 2012. The document will consider:

• relevant solutions from the region’s in-progress goose management strategy
• applicable deer control measures identified in the B.C. Ministry of Environment’s Urban Ungulate Conflict Analysis Report.
• the geographic areas where deer management strategies are most needed
• public engagement strategy and potential for a citizen advisory group in Plan development
• methods for moving the Deer Management Plan from strategy into action
• how to address partnership arrangements for technical expertise, and funding and implementation strategies
• research gathered on deer population status and trends, deer collision data and resulting financial implications.

 

• Minutes (PDF )
• Public Submissions October 26 - November 8, 2011 (PDF )

• October 26, 2011 staff report to PTPS Committee (PDF )

Appendices:

• Deer Population Trends (PDF )
• Deer Collision Statistics (PDF )
• Deer Collision Map (PDF )
• Community Feedback (PDF )
• Deer- Human Health Information (PDF )
• Minutes (PDF )

 

• Public submissions August 23 - October 25, 2011 (PDF )

 

In the seven months since the dedicated email for community feedback has been open, nearly 617 households have commented on property damage, health risk, road safety, deer aggression, deer appreciation, deer management recommendations, and impacts on agriculture. Suggestions on deer management were also received.

 

All of the information on deer management compiled and referenced to date can be accessed according to date ranges of submission.

 

The dedicated email address will remain active for members of the public to continue submitting ideas and opinions on deer management in the CRD.

• June 22, 2011 staff report to PTPS Committee (PDF )
• Minutes (PDF )

• January 26, 2011 staff report to PTPS Committee (PDF )
• Minutes (PDF )