In an application to the Norwegian Environment Agency, Kinn municipality has asked for permission to stun and move nuisance “urban deer”. – The deer eat what they find, and come onto people’s terraces, says agricultural manager Jon Anders Stavang in Kinn. The municipality did the same in 2012. Then 25 deer were transported away. – It is difficult to hunt in an area close to the city centre. The deer has found that out. This means that there will be more animals there, explains the agricultural manager. – The grandchildren think it’s great, but he raised the flower Johan Johansson is one of the homeowners who always has deer visiting his garden. – Personally, I think it’s just pleasant, and the grandchildren also think it’s nice that the deer comes to visit, he says. Johansen photographed both roe deer and a red deer in the back garden in October, and basically has only good things to say about the four-legged guests. The deer in Johan Johansson’s garden cares little that there are people present. Photo: Johan Johansson – My wife and I usually stand on the veranda and talk, while the deer keeps to itself. The cat doesn’t have a problem with them either. The garden owner is nevertheless positive that the municipality is taking action. – I think that’s great. It’s nice with deer, but he ate up our flowers. And the problem grew in scope. Because the deer tribe has become bigger. Will there be more deer The populations of deer and deer game are historically high in Norway. Earlier this autumn, news wrote about farmers in Western Norway who have long believed that something must be done. One of the measures is that 72 municipalities in Norway were granted quota-free hunting for deer calves by the Norwegian Environment Agency. The main challenges are that the deer have come close to people, destroyed the farmers’ crops and that there are many traffic accidents and accidents. At the Norwegian Environment Agency, senior advisor Erik Lund at the wildlife section says that the deer population in Norway is not out of control, but that in some areas it is larger than desirable. – And the deer is still spreading both eastwards and northwards in the country. 50 hit last year The head of agriculture in Kinn hopes they will be able to shoot some of the deer during the hunt, which lasts until 23 December. And preferably the part that is in the villa area and people’s gardens. The second measure is therefore to anesthetize the deer in the spring. Then to carry him away. Therefore, they have applied to the Norwegian Environment Agency for permission to do as they did in 2012. But after the 25 animals were caught and transported by boat to the Norwegian Deer Center on Svanøy, the tribe has gradually grown larger again. Here the deer enjoys green and fresh grass in a garden in Florø. Strict regulations The starting point is that wild animals should not be kept in captivity, states the Norwegian Environment Agency. The reason is that the animals can have a strong stress reaction when they come inside a fence and have to be handled by people. – But we have experienced that the deer that walk in people’s yards do not get this stress response, which is why we are applying for an exemption from the regulations, says Stavang. STUNNED: In 2012, 25 deer were stunned and transported to Svanøy Photo: Johan Trygve Solheim The Norwegian Environment Agency expects the municipality to expect an answer before Christmas. – We register that the municipality has a challenge with many suburban deer. When an exception is made to a strict set of regulations, there is a concrete and thorough assessment behind it, says Erik Lund at the game section. In Gaddevegen in Florø, Johan Johansson is looking forward to having his garden in peace, even though he may not be the one for whom the deer visit has the greatest impact. – It is the wife who gets to work with the deer. She is the one who takes care of the garden, laughs the homeowner.
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Kystby takes action to curb the “deer invasion” – news Vestland
