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Resident pitches plan to keep deer in park Travis Paterson
The suggestion that deer are coming down from Mount Douglas Park to Gordon Head neighbourhoods is erroneous, Wick wrote in a letter to council. Mount Douglas area resident Livinia “With all the people in the park, and Rojas has an idea to keep the deer out of their off-leash dogs, and the deer get backyards and in Mount Douglas Park, by planting native, deer-friendly vegetation in scared, they clear out,” Wick said. “Any deer on Mount Doug are the park. probably well away from trails, Rojas presented to Saanich which isn’t a place anyone will council as a delegation of one plant anyways.” on Monday, floating the idea for The Friends of Mount a pilot project, in which Saanich Douglas, in partnership with would fund the purchase and the Saanich Pulling Together planting of deer-friendly plants Program, has spent more than in Mount Douglas Park. 15,000 hours removing invasive Rojas comes at it as an plants from Mount Douglas animal sympathizer who Park and continue to do so on a doesn’t want to see deer getting weekly basis. hurt on Gordon Head roads, Livinia Rojas “Volunteers are welcome she says. to join us every Thursday “Some people seem to think morning,” Wick said. I would plant non-native or invasive He also said he doesn’t believe anyone species but of course we would only has a true deer count. plant native species the deer like,” she “It’s all subjective, but walking in the said. “Others ask me, what about the park, it’s rare to see a deer compared to predators. And I say to that, wouldn’t you walking or driving around Gordon Head, rather they were away from the houses?” where you’re sure to see them. That’s Council was mostly mum in their where they live. They much prefer the response. well-watered, tasty garden [vegetables] of While the idea to keep deer in Saanich Gordon Head,” he said. is novel – the district is working in For now, Rojas admits she has more tandem with the Capital Regional to research for her plan, but what can District’s long-term deer management Saanich lose, she asks. plan, which is currently exploring a spay “It’s native vegetation, it won’t hurt and neuter vaccination program in Oak anything. I’m sure no one had dreamed Bay this fall – Rojas has not approached about actually feeding the deer, but Friends of Mount Douglas Park Society, maybe we can keep them in the park.” said the organization’s president, Darrell reporter@saanichnews.com Wick.
News Staff
Testing the waters
Jacob Zinn/News Staff
One-year-old Elaura got her feet wet at the Gorge Waterway on Sunday, but wasn’t quite ready to splash around. The Gorge Swim Fest attracted more than a hundred people to Saanich Gorge Park and featured live music, food stands and fun in the sun. Other satellite events also took place at Banfield Park and Esquimalt Gorge Park.
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