Urban deer have been a growing issue across Nova Scotia, especially in towns and residential areas. One major contributor? People feeding them, which encourages deer to linger and multiply. Here’s what some communities are doing:
Yarmouth
- Status: Finalizing a proposal for a controlled cull during hunting season.
- Explored Options:
- Relocation
- Trap/neuter/release
- Contraceptives
- Deterrents and habitat changes
- Community Actions:
- Public surveys and info sessions
- Bylaw banning wildlife feeding (fines up to $1000)
- Population tracking via pellet studies
Colchester County (Truro, Bible Hill, Valley)
- Plebiscite: Residents will vote on allowing urban bow/crossbow hunts.
- Goals:
- Reduce vehicle collisions
- Protect gardens
- Restore ecological balance
- Truro’s Approach:
- Managed hunts since 2022
- Meat donated to food banks via Hunters Helping the Hungry
Province-Wide Changes (as of Oct 1, 2025)
- Longer hunting season
- Minimum hunting age lowered to 12 (with adult supervision)
- 11 additional Sundays added to the hunting calendar
These changes aim to support deer population control and rural communities.
