Not one penny. ThatB次元官网网址檚 how much financial support the Capital Regional District can expect from the province to help tackle problems with the regionB次元官网网址檚 burgeoning deer population.

A report presented to the CRDB次元官网网址檚 planning, transportation and protective services committee last week said B次元官网网址渘o financial resources would be availableB次元官网网址� from the Ministry of Environment to support a deer management plan.

B次元官网网址淚 believe it has to be a multi-pronged approach. I see the province, ICBC and ourselves B次元官网网址� as the Capital Region B次元官网网址� implementing probably a three-stage solution,B次元官网网址� said Oak Bay Mayor Christopher Causton, chair of the CRD parks committee.

The first stage would involve an education campaign and stricter bylaws around feeding animals. The second would be tranquilization and relocation of deer, and the third would be a selective cull.

B次元官网网址淭he municipalities have to agree to a plan and then the province needs to indicate theyB次元官网网址檙e taking this seriously now,B次元官网网址� Causton said. B次元官网网址�(The deer population) canB次元官网网址檛 go on exploding.B次元官网网址�

The report presented to the CRD doesnB次元官网网址檛 offer suggestions for managing the deer. It includes one recommendation: to prepare terms of reference for a plan and seek out funding partners.

CaustonB次元官网网址檚 hope that ICBC will get involved stems from the increasing number of car-deer collisions. The report says the number of crashes has increased by an average of 13 per cent each year since 2000.

B次元官网网址淏etween 1997 and 2007 animal-related insurance claims in BC have increased from $15.8 million to $30.8 million,B次元官网网址� reads the report.

Sean Pendergast, a wildlife biologist with the Ministry of Forests, said Greater VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 issues are the result of urban spread.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e done a very good job in our urban and rural areas of eliminating all predators B次元官网网址� cougars and wolves B次元官网网址� so the deer numbers are able to increase unencumbered,B次元官网网址� Pendergast said. B次元官网网址淎nd hunting is becoming less acceptable, even legal hunting practices, so really the only predator they have these days is automobiles.B次元官网网址�

As a wildlife biologist, he says relocation isnB次元官网网址檛 in the best interest of the animals. It puts them at a huge disadvantage, survival-wise, being in a brand new environment. B次元官网网址淏ut quite often (relocation is) a public desire before even mentioning a cull.B次元官网网址�

Also included in the CRD report are the results of a call for public input on deer-related issues. More than half of the 389 submissions received were property damage complaints.

The province is willing to provide staff support through a deer control planning process and will agree to lend equipment B次元官网网址� clover traps, net guns, tranquilizers B次元官网网址� during the implementation.

B次元官网网址淚 think weB次元官网网址檝e lit a bit of a fire under the CRD B次元官网网址� things are moving along,B次元官网网址� Causton said, acknowledging that he first asked regional staff to look at a management plan a year ago.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got to step up from what weB次元官网网址檝e got now, which is nothing.B次元官网网址�