Feeding deer from private property is now illegal in Okotoks.
Council passed its Deer and Wildlife Feeding and Attractants bylaw at its July 19 meeting, prohibiting the intentional or unintentional feeding of deer and other wildlife on private property, with the exception of bird feeders intended for birds only and hung out of reach of other wildlife.
Okotoks Municipal Enforcement officer Sam Burnett said the bylaw was derived from recommendations of the Urban Deer Task Force in May. The Town had a bylaw that prohibited the feeding of deer in open spaces but not on private property.
“We have had, over the years, various complaints of this nature,” said Burnett. “It does cause issues throughout the town where people put out food to attract the deer to their private property.”
He said the Town looked into communities that have adopted similar practices to help define its bylaw, including Banff in Alberta, and Sparwood, Grand Forks and Elkford in B.C.
The bylaw states no person shall store, handle, or dispose of any wildlife attractants in a manner that makes them accessible to animals, and that “no person shall feed, attempt to feed, or permit the feeding of, either directly or indirectly, any deer or other wildlife.”
Garden and fruit trees are exempt and not considered unintentional feeding, said Burnett.
“We still want everybody to have their gardens, have their fruit trees, have their crabapples and whatnot,” he said.
There are various fines listed in the bylaw.
For improperly storing, handling or disposing of attractants, or feeding deer and other wildlife, the penalty is $250 for the first offence and $500 for subsequent offences.
Placing birdfeeders within reach of deer and other wildlife carries a fine of $150 or $300 for subsequent offences. Willfully obstructing or interfering with a peace officer will result in a penalty of $500, or $1,000 after the first offence.
Coun Matt Rockley said he has heard of people purposely building deer feeders and keeping them stocked with hay in the past.
“It’s good to hear that type of thing will be prohibited through this bylaw,” he said.
Coun. Tanya Thorn said the bylaw addresses a hole in the Town’s enforcement and ability to address deer interaction and conflict.
“This covers that gap and helps to decrease the food sources that are available, which then will hopefully push more deer into the river valley where there is their natural food source,” said Thorn.
“I think this is an easy way for residents to help improve that conflict, so that we don’t have to look at other methods of solving the problem.”
