Stop feeding the deer

Truro residents who feed deer adding to Truro’s overpopulation issues

Easy access to food, both intentionally and unintentionally, has helped create Truro’s contentious overpopulation of deer, a Nova Scotia biologist says.

“In Truro, which is probably dealing with the highest numbers at this point, the deer have found food,” said Michael Boudreau, a wildlife biologist with the Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forestry, who is working with the town on its deer management strategy.

Although Truro has seen the greatest number of deer populating its urban core, Boudreau said, other communities, including New Glasgow, Yarmouth, Shelburne and Bedford have also contacted the department with deer concerns.

“And, on an annual basis, on a seasonal basis, it’s replenished,” he said. “People have gardens, vegetable and ornamental, and there is, no doubt, wild apple trees in vacant lots. And/or, people have fruit trees in their yards. The food source is there and not only is it there, it’s replenished on a fairly regular basis.”

So while deer are picking on small gardens, they’re also being fed by people who may believe they’re performing a good deed.

“People might think they’re helping them out, but they’re not,” Boudreau said.

“A good example might be, if you and I were living across from one another in a subdivision, and I’m feeding them, they’re crossing from your yard to my yard and could cause an automobile accident by getting hit. People can get injured when that happens. So, by bringing them to my yard, I’m causing a potential hazard for people motoring up and down the road, as well as for the deer.”

Over thousands of years, Boudreau said, deer have developed the ability to survive in the winter and when they don’t, it’s nature’s way of balancing out their population and resources. People intentionally feeding them upsets that balance.

“If this was up in the mountains,

the population would likely eat out its food and would eventually crash – the numbers would get low,” he said. “Then the habitat would regain for wintering, for feeding, and they would slowly build up again. That doesn’t happen in town because they’re not losing more numbers than they’re bringing in, the population only grows.”

The lack of urban predators, unlike in previous times when people would just let their dogs outside to run, is also a factor, Boudreau said.

“So they’re not getting run off by dogs anymore. At one time, they did,” he said. “There are few coyotes, maybe a few up by the park, so the only real detriment is when they’re struck by a car.”

The lack of negatives also speaks to the boldness of the deer in town. Boudreau recalled recently watching a deer eat out of a flowerpot in the middle of downtown.

“They’re very comfortable,” he said. “If you and I were in the blueberry fields in Colchester County, up in the mountains, we likely wouldn’t see a deer. If we did, it would be hundreds of metres away. Part of the reason is the negative association there, hunting. They learn to avoid people in that environment because bad things might happen,

“In the town, there are none, he said, adding the deer become accustomed to people passing by in their vehicles. “So they learn to stand still and know the car isn’t going to do anything.”

As for what might casue a deer to act aggressively, Boudreau said that could stem from does protecting their young or bucks acting out during mating season.

“They’ll trample you to protect their young,” he said. “Not all are that way, but some have different mindsets. And when the rut is on, males can be more unpredictable. Clearly their mind is on mating and if they see people as a threat, well, the potential is there to get trampled as well.

“There are reports, very few, but it does happen.”

Town CAO Mike Dolter said another strategy meeting is scheduled for later this month.

“We’re accessing some of the management options,” Dolter said, adding the committee may choose to seek out additional consultation.

“We’re basing it (the pending strategy) on the survey results we did in 2017 and just going forward, having each of those options evaluated by the committee members,” he said.

That will include a technical overview by Boudreau and another department biologist who will be providing a template of successful deer management programs in other areas, including in British Columbia.