Mule deer munching on tulips on 18th Street in East Hill (Photo credit: Kevin Rothwell/Vernon Matters)

By Kevin Rothwell

No action to be taken

East Hill deer attracts Vernon council attention

Apr 14, 2021 | 5:00 AM

A large herd of mule deer that call Vernon’s East Hill neighborhood home, was brought up at Vernon council on Monday, but it doesn’t appear any action will result.

“There was a concern raised about mule deer on East Hill. Is that on our radar?” Coun. Scott Anderson inquired.

Staff reported that there have not been any complaints lodged with city hall about the deer.

“I moved out of East Hill five years ago, and they were there then, they have been there for quite a while,” Coun. Brian Quiring said. “It is actually quite a significant herd, and I’m surprised actually that we haven’t done anything about it, because they can be pretty aggressive to dogs, especially this time of year, they have been there and it has been a problem.”

Coun. Akbal Mund told council he counted 17 of the deer bedded down on an empty lot at Pleasant Valley Road and 32nd Avenue.

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“This was brought up in the second year of our last term. Someone wanted us to look into it. I believe it was referred to conservation, if I am correct, and they said there is no desire to do anything,” Mund said. “There is quite a few up there, and they have been around for decades. You have to look at who was here first, was it humans or the animals? What do you do?”

Urban mule deer have been increasing in population, according to a study by the B.C. Wildlife Federation, and are difficult to relocate once they get accustomed to city life.

Cranbrook approved the cull of 50 deer in 2018, removing 30 mule deer and 20 whitetail deer. That city noted most of the complaints were about aggressive whitetail deer.

The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations recommends that cities with an issue develop a deer management plan. The ministry established a fund in 2016 to assist municipalities dealing with the issue.