A crowd of around 100 people showed up to discuss solutions to address problems associated with the city’s urban deer population at The Centre, Jan18.

By Chris Marchand

A suggestion from a local resident to tranquilize, trap and relocate the city’s nuisance deer population became a focal point for perhaps the most productive exchange of ideas to date on the topic of nuisance deer, Jan. 18.

Suggested by resident Bob McGillivray, the idea gained traction with a higher-than-expected crowd of around 100 people at Wednesday’s public meeting — a crowd, as one might guess, who were pushing move the issue forward.

The non-lethal approach appeared to interest the councillors, police and MNR officials presiding over the event, who have long balked at the safety and legal issues associated with public demands for a cull of the deer population.

Another resident suggested administering oral contraceptives to the urban deer population through spiked salt-lick, or other such delivery mechanism.

Park Crescent resident Bruce Walchuk says he wasn’t the first person on his block to take the unusual step of installing an electric fence in his backyard in an effort to protect his grandchildren from wild animals who have lost their natural fear of humans. Living on the interface of Pronger Park, Walchuk says he’s concerned that the deer are drawing predators into residential neighbourhoods.

“We’re at a point where we’re watching wolves walk down Park Crescent,” said Walchuk. “We saw the first one about three years ago.”

Wolves aside, resident Robert van Oort posed concerns about the potential risks posed to children by the deer themselves who can often display territorial behaviour. Van Oort says the habituated animals should be recognized as a liability to the municipality should a child or anyone be attacked.

A 13 month-old child narrowly escaped injury from an aggressive deer in a residential backyard this past summer in Kenora. The family’s dog was trampled in the same incident.

“If the town recognizes that they have a problem and that if someone is hurt or killed, then what are we on the hook for,” said resident Hal Wilmering.

Dryden Police Service Inspector Kevin Glenister was on hand to update residents on laws regarding the discharge of firearms within city limits. While it remains illegal to discharge a firearm within the city’s zone 1 boundaries (within the historical townsite), Glenister says firearms can be used within zone 2 (the traditional boundaries of Barclay Township) dependent upon the circumstances. A one acre parcel of land is a minimum requirement for the legal use of air rifles, archery tackle and paintball guns. On a 30 acre parcel within zone 2, residents may employ .22 calibre rim fires rifles and shotguns.

A long-range, centre fire rifle can only be used on a plot of land 60 acres in size or greater.

Glenister adds that recent efforts by municipal councils to amend the firearms laws in Kenora and Thunder Bay will bring those communities in line with what Dryden already has. He says deer have been directly related in three vehicle collisions in the past month.

MNR Area Supervisor Matt Benson was on hand to represent the wildlife management perspective, which has long been wary of the idea of a cull.

Bensons says the tranquilize/relocate option could be a feasible course of action. While he believes the city would have to staff such a venture, MNR personnel could offer their expertise in training and guidance.

He says the city and MNR will likely meet in the future to evaluate the options heard at the meeting for their safety, practicality and economics.