Cranbrook still culling deer despite relocation program, activists say

B.C. animal rights activists allege that as Cranbrookprepares to relocate problem urbandeer, it's still killing them.

The British ColumbiaDeerProtectionSociety says it has obtained a video showing what it calls the "inhumane"killing of adeertrapped in a net inCranbrook.

The group said the video was shot last week without the knowledge of the city or the two contractors who werehired to cull urban deer.

In the video, a smalldeeris seen pacing in a trap at night.Two men then arrive and collapse the trap on the animal and stun it, twice, with a bolt gun.

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Thedeeris then dragged away, and it appears to be still kicking.

Deer killed in Cranbrook

9 years ago

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Animal rights activists claim the deer was killed inhumanely by city contractors.

"The deer has been stressed and tortured in a trap all night just like we have been saying," said Devin Kazakoff of the Deer Protection Society.

"And then [it's]not humanely dispatchedthe bolt has to be applied, in this particular video, two times and thedeeris still kicking as it is being dragged out of the trap".

Kazakoff and the Animal Alliance of Canada are calling on the B.C. government to review the City of Cranbrook's deer cullpermit in light of the video, which they have posted on Youtube and their websites.

"The permit is quite clear about what is considered humane and that certainly doesn't cut it,"says Liz White, the founder of the Animal Alliance.

Deer relocation program starting soon

The Alliance has been a long-time critic of the four municipalities thatcullurbandeerin the Kootenays:Cranbrook, Kimberley, Invermere and Elkford.

Those four communities are taking part in a pilot project to relocate problem deer this winter or spring. White's organization is donating $10,000 dollars to help pay for the relocations.

"Now I don't want one single penny of that to go to Cranbrook," saidWhite. "This has been done in secret. Behind closed doors. Even the good residents of Cranbrook had no idea that thiscullwas going on."

The City of Cranbrooksaid it doesn't want to comment on the video or allegations of the animal rights organizations.

In an email to CBC. city spokespersonChris Zettel wrote, "We will not be engaging in any discussion or debate around the issue of urbandeerwith the Animal Alliance of Canada through the media."