Okotoks is setting up a task force to deal with urban deer

Seeing a deer ambling down Okotoks' main street or napping on a residential lawn is a daily occurrence in the Alberta town south of Calgary.

Now, town officials are developing a task force to develop strategies to deal with the human-wildlife interactions.

Town council approved the formation of the task force on Monday.

"Forming this task force will enable us to establish short and long-term strategies to create the best balance between our deer population and the wellbeing of our residents," Mayor Bill Robertson said in a statement posted to the town's website. 

The idea's received mixed responses from residents.

"I think it's probably a good idea. I mean, we do have an overabundance of them and, you know, I think something definitely needs to be done," resident Debbie Clark said.

But, Tracy Tempner said she's not bothered by deer on her lawn.

"I think it's a waste of money personally, but that's just me. It doesn't affect me, I'm not bothered, I don't care really," she said. 

A 2018 survey of residents done by the town found that 41 per cent love having deer in their yard, but 30 per cent say deer cause damage to their flowers, trees and landscaping and that they would like the issue resolved.

The town held two one-hour counts on Sept. 14 and 16, 2018, to track the number of deer sightings. Volunteers counted 35 deer the first day, and 64 on the second day.

The town has no current deer-control plans, but it's advising residents to adopt strategies to discourage deer from eating from or inhabiting yards — like removing crab apple trees or planting scarecrows.

The task force is set to operate for a year, and details as to who will be on the task force and how it will work will be ironed out in the coming weeks.