The District of Oak Bay is moving ahead with its deer management plan after receiving a $20,000 cost-share grant from the BC government.
Oak Bay is working in partnership with the Urban Wildlife Stewardship Society for implementation of the first phase of what they are calling a "progressive, science based, deer management project". This would not involve a deer cull.
In Phase 1 of the program, 20 deer will be captured and tagged with GPS reporting collars as well as a rigorous photo-identification assessment will be made.
The District of Oak Bay reports the population of black-tailed deer is on the rise and has reached its limit. Since 2012, deer mortalities in the district are also increasing.
Oak Bay offers and abundance of year-round vegetation where urban deer have no natural predators.