Re: “Few solutions to deer problem,” editorial, Nov. 15.
A recent statement by the B.C. SPCA seems to contradict the editorial:
“Based on lessons learned from other North American cities dealing with this issue for the past 20 years, the proposed cull actions are not a scientifically sound or sustainable solution.” And: “An indiscriminate cull which neglects considerations for gender and age class is unethical and contrary to generally accepted principles of wildlife management.”
Kimberley killed 100 deer, but three months later, the deer count was even higher. Killing the deer will only attract more deer to the area so the “cull” will have to be repeated every year unless the environmental conditions that attracted the deer in the first place change.
The B.C. SPCA also encourages the enforcement of existing bylaws and a more comprehensive management, including the implementation of non-lethal management actions.
Environment Canada is also quoted as saying: “Lethal control techniques or culls should be a last-resort option and should not come before serious attempts have been made to control the situation through other means.”
Apart from the brutality of the killing method itself, which was never devised for wildlife, the proposed “project” is ignoring the actual science and the experience of other jurisdictions in B.C. and elsewhere.
Finally, the emotional and social impact of the proposed action would be huge, as clearly shown in other communities where it was implemented. Is this really what we want to happen in beautiful Victoria?
Nabhraj Spogliarich
Saanich
