Duane Hicks
Although council passed a bylaw back in January to make it illegal to feed deer within town limits, the reports of them munching on people’s property continue and the town wants residents to know that they will be fined if they keep feeding deer.
Fort Frances CAO Mark McCaig said he has been getting many reports from concerned citizens about the proliferation of the deer population in town, the fact they are being “lured” here, and the damage they continue to cause.
“Personally, I [know] where there has been 13-14 deer congregated in an area in a certain subdivision. That’s not normal, everybody knows that’s not normal, and it’s not a good situation for the people that enjoy their gardens and enjoy other horticultural things,” McCaig noted.
“One person’s pleasure [feeding deer] is many people’s headache,” he stressed.
McCaig said the public must remember there is a bylaw in place, they have been advised, and town administration has the tools in place to levy fines.
There is a $300 fine with a $60 surcharge, and the fine can be applied for consecutive days if non-compliance continues.
“It’s getting to the point where it’s getting pretty serious,” McCaig remarked. “There have been a lot of people coming forward suggesting certain people have been feeding deer. We would kindly ask you to stop.
“Our general practice with bylaws is to be very consultative and approach people in a reasonable manner, and we’ll continue to do that, but only to a reasonable extent, though,” he warned.
“People should be made aware that if you continue to feed deer in this manner, you will be charged for violating this bylaw.
“I wanted to get it out there so that everybody is forewarned that this didn’t come out of the blue,” he continued. “We’re getting a lot of complaints about this, so be aware that the bylaw is in place and we fully intend on enforcing it.”
McCaig’s remarks were prompted, in part, by a letter of concern from local resident Helen Crook, which council referred to the Planning and Development executive committee for its recommendation at Monday night’s meeting.
“Apparently not enough fines, or of a sufficient amount, were levied to make an impression on deer-feeding residents,” she wrote. “One can only ask if they think a beautiful appearance excuses all damages they inflict on the rest of the populace.
“This type of shallowness is beyond all comprehension,” Crook stressed. “When horses, cows, and livestock are forbidden in town, it takes a lot of arrogance to justify such behaviour.”
Noting her neighbour’s cedars have been reduced to “Q-tips,” and she has lost innumerable tulips and other flowers to the deer, Crook asked the town to find out how much damage deer have done, as well as how many have been roaming about because they have been lured here and keep returning to an easy source of food.
She added the MNR also needs to be involved because of the risks of diseases deer can carry, which local doctors and the public as a whole should be aware of.
“I really do not know what can be done but would like to see the problem controlled before, because of numbers, we need a ministry shoot,” Crook concluded.
Council passed a bylaw Jan. 26 to ban feeding wildlife, except for birds, squirrels, and chipmunks, within the corporate limits of the Town of Fort Frances.
The issue of feeding deer was brought forth in December by local resident John Nelson, who had concerns about vehicle/deer collisions, the destruction of gardens, and the possible spread of chronic wasting disease.
Nelson strongly encouraged town council to pass a bylaw to outlaw deer feeding, adding Dryden and Kenora already had such bylaws in place.
