Urban Deer Management

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Image of three deer feeding in an urban setting.

If you live or work in the Town of Yarmouth, it’s no secret that the deer population has grown in recent years. And not just by a small margin. In some cases, people are reporting seeing up to 15 deer in their yard at one time. While beautiful, they are becoming more and more of an issue each year. We are not alone, as many other towns across the province are experiencing the same problem.

Looking For Solutions through a Deer Management Strategy

At the April 14th 2022 Yarmouth Town Council meeting, a motion was passed to mirror the Deer Management Strategy developed by the Town of Truro. The strategy will address all issues related to the overpopulation of deer in town. This includes reducing problems with deer as they affect individual properties, offering public education, and exploring options for reducing the population. The strategy will be developed with oversight and guidance from Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables.

Creation of a Deer Management Working Group

A key step in implementing a Deer Management Strategy involves forming a Deer Management Working Group. The group includes town staff, Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables representatives, members of the community, and other experts. The group is looking at all sides of the issue to find short and long-term solutions.

With the formation of a working group, the Town of Yarmouth is moving forward in hope of developing a comprehensive strategy to solve the deer population issue.

Deer Management Group Members

Elected Official Members

Councillor Gil Dares (Chair)
Councillor Wade Cleveland

Appointed Members At Large

Tracey Parker
Freeman Libby
Anne de Grosbois

Department of Natural Resources

Deanna Nauss (Area Manager, Yarmouth /Digby), Tricia Fleming (Human Wildlife Conflict Biologist), Sian Wilson (Regional Biologist) – on leave

Town of Yarmouth Staff

CAO, Jeff Gushue
Municipal Clerk, Lindsay MacKinnon
Communications Coordinator, Mike Carter

Please check this page often, as we will provide updates on the working group's progress, and seek your input on key issues. You can also click the "STAY INFORMED - Subscribe for project updates" over on the right side of the page to receive updates.

If you live or work in the Town of Yarmouth, it’s no secret that the deer population has grown in recent years. And not just by a small margin. In some cases, people are reporting seeing up to 15 deer in their yard at one time. While beautiful, they are becoming more and more of an issue each year. We are not alone, as many other towns across the province are experiencing the same problem.

Looking For Solutions through a Deer Management Strategy

At the April 14th 2022 Yarmouth Town Council meeting, a motion was passed to mirror the Deer Management Strategy developed by the Town of Truro. The strategy will address all issues related to the overpopulation of deer in town. This includes reducing problems with deer as they affect individual properties, offering public education, and exploring options for reducing the population. The strategy will be developed with oversight and guidance from Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables.

Creation of a Deer Management Working Group

A key step in implementing a Deer Management Strategy involves forming a Deer Management Working Group. The group includes town staff, Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables representatives, members of the community, and other experts. The group is looking at all sides of the issue to find short and long-term solutions.

With the formation of a working group, the Town of Yarmouth is moving forward in hope of developing a comprehensive strategy to solve the deer population issue.

Deer Management Group Members

Elected Official Members

Councillor Gil Dares (Chair)
Councillor Wade Cleveland

Appointed Members At Large

Tracey Parker
Freeman Libby
Anne de Grosbois

Department of Natural Resources

Deanna Nauss (Area Manager, Yarmouth /Digby), Tricia Fleming (Human Wildlife Conflict Biologist), Sian Wilson (Regional Biologist) – on leave

Town of Yarmouth Staff

CAO, Jeff Gushue
Municipal Clerk, Lindsay MacKinnon
Communications Coordinator, Mike Carter

Please check this page often, as we will provide updates on the working group's progress, and seek your input on key issues. You can also click the "STAY INFORMED - Subscribe for project updates" over on the right side of the page to receive updates.

Ask Your Questions

Do you have questions about the Town of Yarmouth's deer management plans? Please send your question(s) and we will be happy to answer.

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  • Share One Question i have is why there are no caution signs anywhere deer are present. also, there are way more Deer in the north end of town. Also, this time of year of year is harvesting time for Deer. Chestnut is one of the Favorite foods for Deer just like a Acorn to a Deer. The Town if Full of Food for Deer. I am a Hunter and i can Tell you for a fact that if you take away the food source you will have less Deer. Speed is also a Factor in all of This. Drive fast and you are more likely to hit a Deer. Cell phones are also a Problem in this Town. There is so much more i could say on this matter, but I won't on Facebook Share One Question i have is why there are no caution signs anywhere deer are present. also, there are way more Deer in the north end of town. Also, this time of year of year is harvesting time for Deer. Chestnut is one of the Favorite foods for Deer just like a Acorn to a Deer. The Town if Full of Food for Deer. I am a Hunter and i can Tell you for a fact that if you take away the food source you will have less Deer. Speed is also a Factor in all of This. Drive fast and you are more likely to hit a Deer. Cell phones are also a Problem in this Town. There is so much more i could say on this matter, but I won't on Twitter Share One Question i have is why there are no caution signs anywhere deer are present. also, there are way more Deer in the north end of town. Also, this time of year of year is harvesting time for Deer. Chestnut is one of the Favorite foods for Deer just like a Acorn to a Deer. The Town if Full of Food for Deer. I am a Hunter and i can Tell you for a fact that if you take away the food source you will have less Deer. Speed is also a Factor in all of This. Drive fast and you are more likely to hit a Deer. Cell phones are also a Problem in this Town. There is so much more i could say on this matter, but I won't on Linkedin Email One Question i have is why there are no caution signs anywhere deer are present. also, there are way more Deer in the north end of town. Also, this time of year of year is harvesting time for Deer. Chestnut is one of the Favorite foods for Deer just like a Acorn to a Deer. The Town if Full of Food for Deer. I am a Hunter and i can Tell you for a fact that if you take away the food source you will have less Deer. Speed is also a Factor in all of This. Drive fast and you are more likely to hit a Deer. Cell phones are also a Problem in this Town. There is so much more i could say on this matter, but I won't link

    One Question i have is why there are no caution signs anywhere deer are present. also, there are way more Deer in the north end of town. Also, this time of year of year is harvesting time for Deer. Chestnut is one of the Favorite foods for Deer just like a Acorn to a Deer. The Town if Full of Food for Deer. I am a Hunter and i can Tell you for a fact that if you take away the food source you will have less Deer. Speed is also a Factor in all of This. Drive fast and you are more likely to hit a Deer. Cell phones are also a Problem in this Town. There is so much more i could say on this matter, but I won't

    asked over 1 year ago

    Thank you for your submission. With regard to your question about signage, we will refer the suggestion to the traffic authority for consideration. Regarding food sources, this is a complicated issue that the management group is fully aware of and will explore closely. The town has already recognized the issue of some people deliberately feeding deer and other wildlife, and have introduced a bylaw along with some public education to stop this behaviour. The group will also be looking at landscaping alternatives as part of conflict resolution, which could see reducing food sources through the planting of species the deer do not like. At this early stage, all issues and options are being explored.

  • Share I am wondering why we are following Truro's plan, considering the data shows that a deer cull leads to an increase in the deer population? Have you considered following the plan that the town of Oak Bay, British Columbia is using? They have partnered with the province and a university to study the use of a deer contraceptive vaccine. Perhaps we could do the same thing by partnering with Dalhousie? For more information, please google "Urban Wildlife Stewardship Society and their Deer Plan for Oak Bay, BC". I really think the town/committee should give this serious consideration. on Facebook Share I am wondering why we are following Truro's plan, considering the data shows that a deer cull leads to an increase in the deer population? Have you considered following the plan that the town of Oak Bay, British Columbia is using? They have partnered with the province and a university to study the use of a deer contraceptive vaccine. Perhaps we could do the same thing by partnering with Dalhousie? For more information, please google "Urban Wildlife Stewardship Society and their Deer Plan for Oak Bay, BC". I really think the town/committee should give this serious consideration. on Twitter Share I am wondering why we are following Truro's plan, considering the data shows that a deer cull leads to an increase in the deer population? Have you considered following the plan that the town of Oak Bay, British Columbia is using? They have partnered with the province and a university to study the use of a deer contraceptive vaccine. Perhaps we could do the same thing by partnering with Dalhousie? For more information, please google "Urban Wildlife Stewardship Society and their Deer Plan for Oak Bay, BC". I really think the town/committee should give this serious consideration. on Linkedin Email I am wondering why we are following Truro's plan, considering the data shows that a deer cull leads to an increase in the deer population? Have you considered following the plan that the town of Oak Bay, British Columbia is using? They have partnered with the province and a university to study the use of a deer contraceptive vaccine. Perhaps we could do the same thing by partnering with Dalhousie? For more information, please google "Urban Wildlife Stewardship Society and their Deer Plan for Oak Bay, BC". I really think the town/committee should give this serious consideration. link

    I am wondering why we are following Truro's plan, considering the data shows that a deer cull leads to an increase in the deer population? Have you considered following the plan that the town of Oak Bay, British Columbia is using? They have partnered with the province and a university to study the use of a deer contraceptive vaccine. Perhaps we could do the same thing by partnering with Dalhousie? For more information, please google "Urban Wildlife Stewardship Society and their Deer Plan for Oak Bay, BC". I really think the town/committee should give this serious consideration.

    Dean Martin asked over 1 year ago

    Hello, and thank you for submitting your question. We are following Truro’s model due to its very comprehensive process. We are at the beginning stages of this process, and it's far too early to determine any form of final outcomes. While Truro ended up going forward with a cull, it is not a foregone conclusion that is the direction that will be taken in the Town of Yarmouth. We have lots of work to do first.

    However, we have determined that fertility control is currently not a viable option due to the lack of approved fertility control drugs for ungulates in Canada. Please be sure to read through our terms of reference document in PDF form on this page, as it provide good information of how we will proceed in determining the best solution(s).

Page last updated: 09 Apr 2024, 09:41 AM