The City of Cranbrook has decided to act on a wildlife permit issued by the Ministry of Forests, Land and Natural Resource Operations in late 2012 and has approved a cull of up to 30 mule deer, it announced today, Feb. 14.

“After much careful deliberation council has approved the reduction of the urban deer population by up to 30 mule deer by focusing on several key areas of the community, based on complaints received both by the city and by the Conservation Officer Service,” states a city press release.

The announcement was anticipated by BC Deer Protection Coalition (BCDPC), which today launched a public campaign attacking the city’s decision and is advertising ways the public can help it “stop the slaughter of these beautiful animals.”

In a press release issued Feb. 14, before the city’s announcement, the BCDPC accuses the city of plotting to conduct a secret cull.

That release followed a Feb. 12 meeting between Colleen Bailey, a spokesperson for Humane Treatment of Urban Wildlife (HTUW) and a member of the BCDPC, and Devin Kazakoff, spokesperson for the Invermere Deer Protection Society (IPDS) and BCDPC member and Cranbrook Mayor Wayne Stetski, where they asked for an update on Cranbrook’s urban deer situation.

Bailey and Kazakoff told e-KNOW the mayor appeared “caught off guard” by their question, provided some vague answers and startled them with an admission that a council decision concerning culling would be made in-camera (behind closed doors).

“We asked a very simple question; will the City of Cranbrook be culling deer this spring?” said Bailey. “It is either yes they will or no they will not.  Why can we not get a simple answer?”

In its release, the BCDPC states, “According to Mayor Stetski, Cranbrook council will be meeting behind closed doors and away from public scrutiny to decide how to proceed and what to tell Cranbrook residents and the broader public about a deer cull.”

Bailey, who said she was the only “deer voice” on Cranbrook’s Urban Deer Committee before being replaced last year, suggested, “Perhaps we will have our questions answered tomorrow after the secret council meeting. But given how city officials have refused to answer our questions, I would not assume anything.”

Calling a cull “cruel and regressive,” the BCDPC new release notes, “Cranbrook voted to conduct a second cull in the spring of 2012 but in October Cranbrook officials announced that the cull was on hold pending the Invermere court challenge.

It continues by pointing out a Vancouver Sun (October 6, 20 12) article in which Stetski expressed concern about repercussions if court finds fault with Invermere’s methods since Cranbrook relied on the same public involvement process.

“Now, despite the Mayor’s concerns, rumour has it that Cranbrook council plans to cull deer over the next few weeks,” the release states.

E-KNOW asked the city for comments on the BCDPC press release but has yet to receive answers. However, it concluded its press release on the cull announcement by stating: “Due to concerns around public safety raised both by the RCMP and council, the city will not at this time be providing any additional details surrounding the population reduction activities. The city will provide a comprehensive review to the public once these activities have been completed.”

Kazakoff told e-KNOW he is mystified at how the city can proceed with a “secret deer cull,” when council must pass a resolution to apply for a provincial government permit and pass another resolution in order to conduct a permit.

He suggested an excuse for council making the decision in-camera might be because of the pending legal battle between the District of Invermere the IPDS as a reason, but waves it off as “unrelated.

“The more important question remains unanswered,” added Kazakoff. “Why was the mayor worried about Invermere’s court case in October 2012 and not in February 2013? Nothing has changed. Our case is moving forward. We will likely never know because Cranbrook has discussed this controversial cull behind closed doors and without taxpayer’s oversight. Cranbrook residents will be footing the bill. They deserve to be part of the discussion.”