In some cities and towns, increasing deer numbers have become a safety concern. Aggressive deer have attacked people and pets, and vehicle accidents involving deer in urban areas are on the rise. Deer also attract potentially dangerous predators, like cougars.
While the Province manages deer in the wild, urban deer are primarily managed by municipalities. Urban deer can be difficult to manage because some conventional wildlife management methods, such as hunting deer, are not appropriate in urban settings.
The Province has made cost-share funding available to help local governments and Indian Bands/First Nations manage conflicts between humans and deer in urban areas. To be considered for funding, applicants submit a project proposal to the Provincial Urban Deer Cost-Share (PUDOCS) program.
The PUDOCS applications are evaluated by the Provincial Urban Deer Advisory Committee (PUDAC). The PUDAC includes representatives from the Province, local governments, Union of B.C. Municipalities and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Details on the program and information on how to apply is available in the Program and Application Guide (PDF, 848KB).
PUDAC Meeting Minutes
Project Reports
Often, simple actions can help eliminate urban deer conflict.
Learn more about what you can do.
WildsafeBC
WildSafeBC is a program designed to reduce human-wildlife conflict through education, innovation and cooperation.