Thursday, March 28, 2024

Oak Bay to launch new deer contraceptive program in September

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Oak Bay’s new immuno-contraceptive treatment (IC) program to control deer populations in the area is set to begin this year.

The municipality is hoping the program will serve as an effective alternative to translocating or culling the animals.

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“Immuno-contraception (IC) is a type of vaccine that induces the animal to produce antibodies that prevent fertilization and the formation of an embryo,” explains the Urban Wildlife Stewardship Society (UWSS), who will be leading the program.

To assist with the project, Oak Bay is asking for property owners to grant permission to municipal employees to track and immunize deer on their properties.

Additionally, residents can assist the program by finding female deer and alerting municipality staff or the UWSS to their location.

Once a doe has been located, a wildlife veterinarian will sedate the deer and hand administer the IC vaccination. The deer is then reawakened and free to continue on its way.

The project is expected to begin this September and will run until October, 2019.

According to the municipality, staff will be searching for deer during daylight hours, typically between 6:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

More information on the deer contraceptive program can be found on the UWSS’ website online here.

Oak Bay residents willing to grant property access to the municipality during the program can find the consent form online here.

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Adam Chan
Former Staff Writer at Victoria Buzz.

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