For some months, I have been interested in reading the many letters to the editor from the Deersafe group, which seems to favour the uncontrolled proliferation of ungulates in the Greater Victoria area.
However, having found eight deer in my front garden, which measures roughly 3,000 square feet, in the past two weeks, I feel that more needs to be done. I can’t afford a seven-foot-high fence.
As I support the concept of floral beauty over that of urban wildlife, I would strongly support a parallel body dedicated to the survival of all non-invasive plant life in the Greater Victoria area.
My current health situation negates my spearheading such a group, but I am sure that if there is a dedicated individual with organizational ability, computer skills and a keen desire to see that this area’s flora survives the predations of uncontrolled animals, that person would have the active and financial support of a large number of heretofore silent, busy, but very interested people. Perhaps the movement could be titled FlorasafeVictoria.
It is not just gardens that are being destroyed by the deer, but also the seedlings of the trees that make our area what it is, ie: broadleaf maples, Garry oaks, alder and arbutus, to name a few.
My hat is off to people such as Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen for his courage in making a positive attempt to correct a seemingly uncontrolled situation.
David Smith
Victoria
