In a recent news story in the Victoria Times Colonist, the mayor states that some 30,000 deer have been killed by hunters in the province and therefore he feels that he is justified by killing a mere 25 in Oak Bay.
How many of those 30,000 were caught in a trap, held for hours, often suffering physical and mental injury while awaiting to be brutally shot by an unproven, inhumane method?
The mayor’s whole platform about safety be it to humans, animals or vehicles is flawed and why he keeps beating that tune is baffling. Deer road death numbers in Oak Bay vary, with city hall inflating the numbers. Having a cull is the wrong reason for what is something highly blown out of reality primarily by him. A cull will put a black mark on Oak Bay.
Finally, from what I understand, the permit request was for up to 50 deer and according to the provincial veterinarian, the cull will be ongoing. The number 25 is just a starting point.
D.R. Robertson
Oak Bay