When failure becomes acceptable

New approaches would greatly facilitate the way we coexist with other species

By Georges R. Dupras

July 17, 2024

This year, Parks Canada resorted to the mass killing of Fallow deer in British Columbia. The justification included those old fallbacks of “overpopulation, invasive species and damage to the vegetation”.

This project came on the heels of what has become an annual assault on cormorants located on Middle Island in Lake Erie, also by Parks Canada. The reason for the Middle Island kill is that the cormorants are altering the vegetation ¹ and are an overabundant species. There are varying views on whether they are destroying the vegetation or changing it.

Justification

“Overpopulation” and “invasive” species have become the battle cry for hunters seeking justification for their pastime, the thrill of a kill, and for wildlife managers seeking job security. It was clear from the start that the intent was to eradicate the Fallow deer around Oak Bay on Vancouver Island.

The operation was carried out at the public’s expense and despite protestation by many residents where the aerial shooting took place. The intent is to continue this fall with a ground operation to kill the remaining deer.

“Overpopulation” and “invasive” species have become the battle cry for hunters seeking justification for their pastime, the thrill of a kill, and for wildlife managers seeking job security.

The cost

The cost was well beyond expectation and came as a surprise to the people when it was finally released  – 84 deer, both Fallow and Black-tailed, shot at a cost of $834,000 or just under $10,000 per animal. There was the usual litany of excuses such as the deer were damaging the vegetation ², including some plants of historical importance to the indigenous population of the area. It was also thought that the Fallow deer might be dangerous to humans.

No one is disputing the impact that these animals had on the vegetation. Still, there is little said about the role that hunters played in introducing them to the region in the first place. Unlike the Fallow deer, the Mule deer, aka Black-tailed deer, appear to have arrived on their own. As to car deer incidence, I wonder if a change in driving habits might not benefit all concerned (see Car Deer Incidents below).

A promising option

Several years before the Fallow deer cull, there were plans to cull Black-tailed deer in the community of Oak Bay, part of the city of Victoria. Two species of Black-tailed deer are indigenous to western North America. Thanks to some funding from the Animal Alliance of Canada, volunteer professionals were hired to tranquillize and sterilize ³ the deer with the idea of humanely reducing the population.

The AAC project showed promise, but Parks Canada chose an antiquated killing approach instead for their specific area. The application of the AAC’s non-lethal and cost-effective initiative should improve given the patience and support it deserves. ⁴

‘Thanks to some funding from the Animal Alliance of Canada, volunteer professionals were hired to tranquillize and sterilize³ the deer with the idea of humanely reducing the population. The AAC project showed promise…’

Provincial jurisdiction

Earlier this year the city of Longueuil, located on the south shore of Montreal, announced that it would allow a cull of White-tail deer within its jurisdiction. The justification for this cull is “overpopulation, attracting predatory coyotes⁵ and human safety”.

Car deer incidents

There was the question of car accidents caused by deer but here is an area where the Ministry of Transport might be of some assistance. When vegetation is allowed to grow on the road’s edge, including mediums, there is more likely to be an accident. Site lines should be kept clear so that wildlife has a plain view of oncoming traffic.

Wildlife policies in Quebec are the responsibility of the Minister of Natural Resources (MNR) and are formulated with input by La Table de concertation. This group is made up of hunters, trappers, fishers, furriers, and farmers. They are best known as “stakeholders” (their term, not mine as we are all stakeholders). The confusion with that term is that we are all stakeholders when it comes to the environment.

‘Despite his apparent mandate of representing all Quebecers, the Minister responds to the chosen stakeholders first and foremost, and therefore, I would suggest that non-stakeholders wishing to register complaints, go straight to Premier Francois Legault’s office.’

The chair listens to the invited stakeholders and conveys their comments to the Minister. Despite his apparent mandate of representing all Quebecers, the Minister responds to the chosen Stakeholders first and foremost, and therefore, I would suggest that non-stakeholders wishing to register complaints, go straight to Premier Francois Legault’s office.

Federal jurisdiction

As for Federal jurisdictions, and as far as these projects go, Parks Canada and the Canadian Wildlife Service respond to the needs of rural communities. The Government always shows an interest in marginal ridings and therefore, they tend to support stakeholders. That said, if you would like to change, or otherwise influence the way decisions are made, your most effective option would be to write directly to the Prime Minister.

When failure becomes acceptable

One area of shame in mainstream conservation is our growing acceptance of failure. True we learn from failure, but this is not to suggest we make a career out of it. When conservation issues are vulnerable to political and economic priorities, and we fall back to 19th-century technology (guns and poisons) then surely, we have failed.

‘When conservation issues are vulnerable to political and economic priorities, and we fall back to 19th-century technology (guns and poisons) then surely, we have failed.’

Change is a constant

Progressive change will occur only if we are willing to allow our personal thought patterns to develop. To resist all change is to refuse to take the first step, possibly out of fear of where the second will send us. Accepting new approaches, many from other parts of the world greatly facilitates the way we coexist with other cultures and species.

The British Columbia Project (The Translocation and Possible Sterilization of Mule Deer ⁶) is an example of taking that first step and where the Animal Alliance of Canada played a significant role.

¹ Possibly only the provincially endangered vegetation is of concern. There may have been a lack of oversight on the mainland.

² Elephants and wolves change the vegetation wherever they live. This reality is not considered a bad thing.

³ To be clear, we are speaking about two different projects. The Oak Bay operation showed promise and did not involve translocation while the interior involved translocation. In neither case were deer subjected to both being sterilized and translocated. It was one or the other. The sterilized group showed promise but involved a relatively isolated population. We believe that more success would be achieved if this were done on an island where the population is more isolated.

⁴ Before the Parks Canada cull is sanctioned, the interest behind the cull must conduct a full population count on dependent species. To my knowledge, this was not done.

⁵ Coyotes are not known to take down deer. They are scavengers and they will kill family pets left unprotected by irresponsible pet owners. This only adds to the public’s irrational fear of wildlife.

⁶ The Mule deer in Oak Bay on Vancouver Island were tranquillized. Those Mule deer on the mainland in the Okanagan were not tranquillized.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of its author and do not reflect the opinions of WestmountMag.ca, its publishers or editors.

Feature image: Olga Shenderova – Pexels

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