On April 11, council for District of Elkford will give a first reading to a revolutionary new bylaw that requires residents caught feeding urban deer to licence them.

“Wildlife is meant to stay wild—but if you’re going to treat them like a pet, we’re going to ask that you licence them and care for them as such,” says a representative for the District of Elkford.

Although feeding wildlife is illegal in British Columbia, and for many good reasons, this bylaw aims to change the reputation of Elkford’s pesky urban wildlife through a steep licensing cost and new rules around deer care, feeding and ownership.

Revenue collected through the new deer licensing bylaw will be allocated to build a new off-leash deer park. Learn more about our urban wildlife and what feeding them does.