LETTER – Time for a serious conversation about urban deer problem
(Image: Submitted via John Noakes)
This is an open letter to Mac Gordon as well as others regarding “urban” deer.
A big buck has come into our cul de sac at least twice, maybe more often, and Saturday morning it decided to bed down on the lawn across the street and up a couple of houses from where we live. A young fellow getting home from work took this photo around 6 AM.
I didn’t take Buddy for a walk until almost 10 AM making sure this big buck had gone. All went well for us on the way to Westmount Park but as we were returning home along Collingwood Drive, a big 4X4 buck came out onto Collingwood Drive from the back yard of a house. I saw it as it walked in the driveway. I am assuming it was the same buck but certainly, one that had a 4X4 set of antlers like this guy.
It took only a few seconds for the buck to latch its stare onto us. Its ears went back and it began to lick its nose, trying to smell us better. It started to come toward us, still holding the same posture. The steps were a steady and deliberate slow gate. In all my years in the wild hunting deer, I have never seen a deer act this way.
We were still on Collingwood but were now in front of the new duplexes and the deer was only about 10 yards from us. As I yelled at it, we were able to make our way onto our street and safely home.
Mac, I was plenty scared. Once I was settled a bit, I called the “RAPP” line to report the incident. The call taker was surprised the deer was so aggressive considering my dog is fairly large and weighs about 80 pounds. Although my dog and I made it home safely, I am concerned about other people who walk much smaller dogs and might not have the same awareness about a potential interaction with an urban deer.
As you commented earlier, you are likely right in saying the time has come to have folks “sit down and discuss the problem of urban deer”. (Why don’t we call them “Provincial deer”, Mac?) The municipality seems to have a stake in this whether they like it or not.
Thanks, Armchair Mayor.
JOHN NOAKES,
Citizen of Westmount
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Urban deer are becoming much more aggressive and significantly less fearful than those in the bush. Kelowna, Victoria and other cities have seen attacks recently which have caused injury to citizens and deaths to pets not to mention the dangers to drivers. Big horned sheep along Westsyde road are great to look at but isn’t this the start of what we saw with urban deer 20 yrs ago? Moreover, aren’t we just inviting cougars, wolves and coyotes into the city by ignoring the added dangers of large game animals?
One of these days we’re going to have a serious incident and then the finger pointing will start. It’s a shame our leaders can’t be a little more proactive.
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Thanks, Mac.
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What a truly frightening experience for you. It’s hard to believe you never saw such behaviour when you were attempting to shoot deer with a gun. Perhaps deer have developed duel culture since that time ?
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Mr. Krueger, I don’t mind hearing an opinion from a vegetarian.
Your use of the word “duel” was cute, as in a match between two opponents. If you meant two personalities, then I believe you may have meant to use the word “dual”.
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We’re in the deer’s territory and we like to plant things in our gardens that attract them. I’m sorry you were threatened by the deer–his behaviour was likely due to his feeling threatened by your dog.
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The city has an exemplary work ethic when it comes to raising your taxes and taking your tax dollars to pay their outrageously high salaries.
But they get an F for trail and road maintenance, homeless encampments, urban deer, cocain dogs, garbage and recycling pickup and the goose invasion.
This truly is the armpit of the Interior and it shows.
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Shall we ban deer from Kamloops?
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That’s a good question, Mary.
Before this incident, I was aware of the urban deer issue from stories published on line. As with most things, when it becomes “personal”, there is a far better appreciation.
Since Saturday morning I have tried taking our dog for a walk on three occasions. We get as far as where the deer came out of the driveway and I freeze. You think to yourself, “what if it happens again”? Facing a deer that large which is armed with huge antlers and a powerful body makes one realize just how outgunned a person is.
The situation with this particular deer is being monitored.
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