Communities Engaging with Provincial Government (partial list)

Transcription

1 Urban Deer Management In BC an Overview and Next Steps: UBCM Convention, Whistler 2014 Presented By: Jeff Morgan, Policy Manager, Fish and Wildlife Branch Irene Teske, Wildlife Biologist, Kootenay Region Wildlife Section Communities Engaging with Provincial Government (partial list) Capital Regional District District of Oak Bay Town of Princeton City Of Penticton City of Grand Forks City of Cranbrook City of Kimberley District of Invermere District of Elkford 1

2 A Challenge Because.. Human Dimensions Exercise How social attitudes, processes, and behaviors influence natural resource management New stakeholders/ values Inter-jurisdictional roles and responsibilities Confusion & differing perspectives Alignment required Workloads and Cost Information gathering - biological and social Management Plans and Permit Procedures Committees and communications Complex management actions Monitoring and follow-up Human safety Pet safety (dogs) Predators drawn in Vehicle collisions Landscape and garden conflicts Feces Possible disease transmission (tick related, others?) Garbage habituation Range of Direct Issues 2

3 Expressed Concerns - Values Desired densities in town Ecological/population concerns Animal welfare Lethal versus non-lethal removal Stress and incidental mortality rates (management options) Density deer health/mortality Management Action Effects: Human safety Human emotional stress Use (non-waste) of deer Determining success: differing values, objectives and risk tolerance Roles and Responsibilities Local Governments Urban deer management planning (committees) Permit applications Public consultation and opinion polling Monitoring populations conflicts Project management, staff time and costs Communications Provincial Government (FLNR and MoE-COS) Participate in planning activities Provide technical advice Loan equipment (if available) Communications Process/issue permits (FLNR) Create hunting regulations (where possible) (FLNR) Respond to immediate threats to human safety (COS) Support for WildSafeBC (COS) 3

4 Management Options Conflict Reduction/Administrative Options Education Yard-scale hazing (i.e. sprinklers) and repellants Landscaping alternatives Exclusion fencing Vehicle collision mitigation (e.g. signage, speed limits) Bylaws that prohibit feeding/ attractants Management Options Potential Direct Population Management Lethal Removal Trap and bolt gun Sharpshooting Hunting Translocation Aversive conditioning with trained dogs (not currently able to permit) Immuno-contraception Products not available 4

5 Issues and Approaches: Kootenay Region Primary Concerns: Human safety, high densities of deer Species: Mule deer (primary), white-tailed deer Actions: Bylaws created (5 communities) Resident surveys (5 communities) Regular deer counts (4 communities ) Committees formed (4 communities) Education (signage, WildSafeBC, schools, media) 6 culls in 4 towns (2 incomplete) Aversive conditioning with dogs (1 day trial) Proposed translocation research trial Issues and Approaches: Kootenay Region Project Outcomes: 217 deer lethally removed (4 communities) Meat given to First Nations and Food Banks Reduced deer numbers and complaints (1 community) Other Outcomes: Legal challenges Vandalism and theft of traps Harassment of contractors Anti-cull protests & boycott threats Persisting safety concerns (where population unreduced) Project 5

6 Issues and Approaches: Okanagan Region Primary Concerns: motor vehicle collisions, personal safety, high deer densities (1 community) Species: white-tailed deer, mule deer Actions: Bylaws created (3 communities) Resident surveys (1 community) Regular deer counts (1 community); deer counts conducted (3 communities) Committees formed (2 communities) Education (brochures, poster contest, WildSafeBC program) Project Outcomes: No direct population management conducted Photo: L. Smithson Grand Forks Issues and Approaches: Vancouver Island Primary Concerns: vehicle collisions, human safety, high densities Actions: No-feeding bylaws (many communities) Resident surveys (2 communities) Committees formed (CRD) Education (signage, schools, media) Liberalized regulations (peripheral) Bylaw exemptions given by police to farmers to allow hunting Project Outcomes: 1 town potentially engaged for a cull Other Outcomes: Anti-cull protest and complaints Continuing safety concerns 6

7 Concerns for Gaps Resourcing and resource availability Existing tools and Best Practices Policy Legislation and regulation Communications and outreach Collaboration Urban Deer Policy Workshop: Vision Provincial Government to engage in provincial-level, structured process with the UBCM and effected communities Mid-November , a full day policy development workshop A forum for dialogue and action potential annual meetings Anticipate that it will convene: 7 representatives from the Province Representatives from the communities have are known to have conflicts approximately 13 have been tentatively identified opportunities for expansion. A representative from the UBCM A third party facilitator 7

8 Urban Deer Policy Workshop: Scope A forum for dialogue around: the challenges communities face the approaches employed to date potential solutions for provincial consideration. Urban Deer Policy Workshop: Purpose Provide an environmental scan and updates (best practices, policies and regulation tools, management techniques and strategies); Share community experiences and practices Clearly define roles and responsibilities Identify gaps/opportunities within existing tools Discuss provincial communication and engagement processes with local governments, and Identify priorities for policy development for consideration by the Province 8

9 Urban Deer Policy Workshop: Deliverables An opportunity for local government representatives to: identify gaps/opportunities in existing tools advocate for new tools and approaches propose priorities for provincial government action The Provincial Government to review and respond to local government recommendations within three (3) months of the workshop. The Province and the UBCM are currently developing a draft TOR for review. It will be made available to local governments for comment in October Thank You Questions? 9