Injunction halts B.C. deer cull plan
Invermere's mayor left 'frustrated'
By Bryan Weismiller, Calgary Herald
February 12, 2012
A
deer cull in B.C. has been suspended until late February after an
interim injunction was filed hours before it was set to begin.
The District of Invermere had planned on culling more than 100 deer, which town officials say was needed for public safety.
However, The Supreme Court of British Columbia, granted a temporary injunction last week.
Invermere mayor Gerry Taft said he was "frustrated and disappointed," after receiving the injunction, which is in place until Feb. 24.
Mule deer are known to be aggressive, Taft said, adding town residents have reported baby carriages and dogs have been charged.
"People say 'the deer bring tourists and it's an attraction,'" he said. "When they're running around eating garbage and getting aggressive it's no longer an attraction."
Some were elated by the news, including more than a dozen members of the In-vermere Deer Protection Organization who called for the temporary injunction.
Devin Kazakoff, president of the unregistered group, said IDPO members have been lobbying for a non-lethal solution to the overpopulation.
"I'm ecstatic," he said. "We were very happy as a group."
Around 175 currently reside in the town 279 kilometres southwest of Calgary, according to the Invermere deer committee. Town officials are now looking to reduce the number of deer to 50.
Kazakoff said the group seeks a more humane alternative such as sterilization. He also said the cull was "hastily decided on" and town residents were not adequately consulted.
Although the Invermere mayor disagreed, saying the town has worked on curbing the deer population since May 2009.
Based on recommendations put forth by the provincial government later that year, Taft said committee members then looked at ways of controlling the population, including transporting the deer elsewhere, culling them and implementing birth control measures - such as sterilization.
"Quite a bunch of research was done," he said.
Last August, town council was presented with the various options and decided to move ahead with the cull.
The province granted a permit in December.
Opposition, including worldwide petitions, has picked up since then, Taft said, but it's time to move forward.
"A lot of residents have told us they want action instead of studying it further and further," he said. "It's already been a lengthy process so far."
Both Taft and Kazakoff said it's up to lawyers to decide what happens next.
Deer reduction has also been planned in other areas of B.C. including Cranbrook and Kimberley, and has stirred similar concerns.
"As far I'm concerned, those deer are our ancestors," said Gordon Wilson, a Radium resident who has spent time in Invermere. "Honestly, I could cry, man.
"I'm pretty sad about it, pretty emotional."
bweismiller@ calgaryherald.com
The District of Invermere had planned on culling more than 100 deer, which town officials say was needed for public safety.
However, The Supreme Court of British Columbia, granted a temporary injunction last week.
Invermere mayor Gerry Taft said he was "frustrated and disappointed," after receiving the injunction, which is in place until Feb. 24.
Mule deer are known to be aggressive, Taft said, adding town residents have reported baby carriages and dogs have been charged.
"People say 'the deer bring tourists and it's an attraction,'" he said. "When they're running around eating garbage and getting aggressive it's no longer an attraction."
Some were elated by the news, including more than a dozen members of the In-vermere Deer Protection Organization who called for the temporary injunction.
Devin Kazakoff, president of the unregistered group, said IDPO members have been lobbying for a non-lethal solution to the overpopulation.
"I'm ecstatic," he said. "We were very happy as a group."
Around 175 currently reside in the town 279 kilometres southwest of Calgary, according to the Invermere deer committee. Town officials are now looking to reduce the number of deer to 50.
Kazakoff said the group seeks a more humane alternative such as sterilization. He also said the cull was "hastily decided on" and town residents were not adequately consulted.
Although the Invermere mayor disagreed, saying the town has worked on curbing the deer population since May 2009.
Based on recommendations put forth by the provincial government later that year, Taft said committee members then looked at ways of controlling the population, including transporting the deer elsewhere, culling them and implementing birth control measures - such as sterilization.
"Quite a bunch of research was done," he said.
Last August, town council was presented with the various options and decided to move ahead with the cull.
The province granted a permit in December.
Opposition, including worldwide petitions, has picked up since then, Taft said, but it's time to move forward.
"A lot of residents have told us they want action instead of studying it further and further," he said. "It's already been a lengthy process so far."
Both Taft and Kazakoff said it's up to lawyers to decide what happens next.
Deer reduction has also been planned in other areas of B.C. including Cranbrook and Kimberley, and has stirred similar concerns.
"As far I'm concerned, those deer are our ancestors," said Gordon Wilson, a Radium resident who has spent time in Invermere. "Honestly, I could cry, man.
"I'm pretty sad about it, pretty emotional."
bweismiller@ calgaryherald.com
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