If you live in the Millidgeville area, you’re likely quite familiar with the problems being caused by deer.
They’re causing collisions on the roads, damaging people’s property, and can transport ticks that carry Lyme disease.
It’s the main reason why Saint John council is considering a deer management program to help control the population.
The city’s Tim O’Reilly says eligible property owners could allow a licensed bow hunter to kill one antlerless deer on their property, in addition to the hunter’s own tag, during hunting season.
“No doubt it’s going to decrease the population because every one additional [deer] you take is one less from the population,” says O’Reilly. “In terms of how much, that’s the big question.”
Other jurisdictions like Quispamsis, Rothesay, Hampton and St. Andrews already have similar programs in place.
‘This is not a vendetta against deer’
Eligible properties would have to be at least one acre in size and hunting cannot occur within 100 metres of a neighbouring house.
Mayor Don Darling says he understands folks are highly sensitive to this issue, but the city isn’t taking it lightly.
“This is not a vendetta against deer … If we had one or two or three deer that you’d see in the run of the week, it wouldn’t be a problem,” says Darling.
Coun. Gerry Lowe says he knows people who have had Lyme disease and wants to see the program in place as soon as possible, but O’Reilly says it could be the fall of 2019 before that happens.
Before the province will even consider approving the program, the city needs to hold an information session and get support from most property owners.
Council also approved a staff recommendation to install ‘deer crossing’ signs on Millidge Avenue, University Avenue, Hickey Road and Heather Way.
