Urban Deer Management

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 14^th 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.