Friday, April 14, 2006

ONTARIO NEWS: Urban deer control needed

Kawartha Lakes, Ontario--City council wants the Province to help control the deer population in the municipality. However, council debated how it wants the Province to do this at its meeting on Tuesday.

Coun. Ric McGee, Ward 2, revived a resolution he brought forward at the community and emergency services committee meeting last week, despite the fact the committee did not pass it.

The resolution provides figures to support the need to control the deer population.

For example, it states there were 287 automobile collisions involving deer in the City of Kawartha Lakes OPP jurisdiction in 2005, accounting for 26 per cent of all collisions.

The resolution requests Minister of Natural Resources David Ramsey be notified of the high deer population and asked to take necessary steps to reduce the number of automobile collisions with deer in the province. It recommends the minister improve publication of provincial policies regarding deer removal and protection of property.

Coun. Dave Marsh, Ward 16, said the resolution needed to be more specific and request an extension of the deer-hunting season by four weeks.

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