Town of Truro, N.S. looks at ways to manage growing deer population, including deer cull
The town of Truro, N.S. has been working on a plan to manage its growing deer population since 2015.
Starting this week, four provincially certified crossbow hunters will embark on a deer hunt in Truro to track and kill 20 female deer.
"It’s part of a deer management strategy the town has been working on with the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables," says Alison Grant, Truro’s economic development manager and member of the deer management working committee.
“The controlled management hunt was what the deer management working group felt was the most efficient and feasible solution for the town of Truro.”
Truro Mayor Bill Mills says the increasing deer population has been an issue for more than a decade and the town has an obligation to act.
“The number one reason why it’s a problem today, in many respects, is that people are feeding the deer,” said Mills.
During the 2020 municipal election, the town held a direct vote asking residents whether they supported a deer cull.
Mills says it split the town, as many opposed the idea of a deer hunt inside town limits, while others said it was necessary.
When the votes were counted, 53 per cent of those who voted (2,311 votes) said they were in favour of the cull, versus 1,728 who opposed the hunt.
“A large number of the population feels, 'Yes. It is a problem and we want you to do something about it,’” said Mills.
“There’s definitely a little too much (deer) and they are getting a little too friendly,” said Truro resident Doug White. “It doesn’t help that people are feeding them from their doorsteps either.”
According to Grant, the town is taking a zero waste approach to the hunt and is partnering with Feed Nova Scotia to donate the harvested deer meat to local food banks.
“All of the antlers and the hides are being donated to Millbrook First Nation and then a lot of the internal organs are being used for research purposes,” said Grant.
The town says there are roughly six deer per square kilometre, and estimates the population has increased by 70 per cent in the last three years.
Grant says Truro averages 20 car and deer collisions per year, however those are just the cases reported to police.
Besides the managed hunt, the town has been working on a public education campaign that includes signage around the town encouraging people not to feed the deer.
Grant says they know other municipalities across the Maritimes are experiencing similar issues with increasing deer population.
“The first year of the project is very much a pilot project,” said Grant. “We want to develop best practices and efficiencies in the first year.”
The four crossbow hunters have until mid-February to complete the deer cull.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
What Canadians think of the latest Liberal budget
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Her fiance has been in prison for 49 years. She's trying to free him before it's too late
Christine Roess is a retired consultant. Ezra Bozeman has spent the last 49 years in prison, serving a life sentence for a murder he says he didn’t commit. Against the odds, the two fell in love.