LETTER – Help is hard to find for resolving conflicts with urban deer
(Image: John Noakes)
Dear Chief Uzeloc,
I have been contacting the BC Conservation Office and both MLAs here in Kamloops regarding conflicts with urban deer.
The suggestion was made to me this morning (by a representative from one of the Kamloops’ MLAs) that City bylaw should be the first avenue of contact for issues of conflicts with urban deer. I respectfully question the logic behind that suggestion.
There have been several instances where deer have come onto our front yard from the City street. The other day, my access to the front door of our home was blocked by a deer. I called several people, one of them being Kamloops Fire Rescue dispatch to ask for advice. Of course, it was really “no one’s problem” except mine, I suppose.
Last night, I called the RAPP line to report a deer that had a broken hind leg. I am assuming a Conservation Officer was assigned to the report although I have had no call back. Information gathered using a “Google search” indicated that injured deer can be very dangerous if approached.
Attached are a few photos of the deer involved. One photo was taken while I was in my truck in our driveway. If any of you see the deer that has 4 points on each antler and is almost unable to walk, I might suggest that you don’t approach it. Google seemed to offer the most assistance with the question of urban deer.
And the saga continues.
Best regards,
John Noakes,
Citizen of Westmount
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Well John why would you expect the local authorities to deal with the single deer problem? Unless the deer population does expand to some unprecedented numbers. I live in a deer-prone area and yes they have been destroying many of my ornamental plants and trees. Yes they are a nuisance but I haven’t bothered nor will ever bother to call anyone over it.
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A different buck activated the motion detector light out front at 10 PM January 31. This time it was a large 3×3 buck and it was just a foot or so away from the concrete landing at out front steps. I have attached a photo for you to see, Mel.
I think Pierre’s comment might have reflected a lack of understanding of what I was trying to say.
Every time a deer this size with antlers is close to our house, it represents a potential physical interaction between deer and human. My wife sometimes arrives home around this time of night and she may not be aware of the deer IF the motion detector light has timed out. Such a deer is directly between our driveway and the front door of our house. I would just as soon not have to deal with her being gored or becoming victim to a deer’s feet during an attack.
The same goes for me when I leave the house. I have made it a habit to look first to see if there are any deer on the front lawn close to the house. Or, the deer could be on our gravel driveway and would be tough to see from the front window.
In these scenarios, deer vs human is a real possibility. I don’t think that I am the only person in Westmount who is having this problem. What comes as a bit of a disappointment is the slack-ass attitude of the two local MLAs whose level of government is responsible for wildlife. I also have been pushing for the local government to make some meaningful policies to address the problem of urban deer.
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