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Thursd a y , J a n u a r y 2 , 2 0 14
GHOSTRIDERS
Serving the South Country, Fernie, Sparwood, Elkford since 1898
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End of year concert at Fernie Secondary
Set to play four games in four days Page 15 COMMUNITY
Bank card fraud Page 20 ELKFORD
Food keeps bears from hibernating - Page 12
SPORT
Liam McLean and the Fernie Secondary School band didn’t miss a beat during their Christmas concert on December 17, 2013. The band and choir performed a variety of pieces in front of over 120 audience members before leading a session of popular Christmas carols. Music teacher David Pasivirta thanked the community for their support of the music program and announced plans for the students to tour in spring to participate in festivals around British Columbia and Alberta. Photo by S. Moulton
Boxing Day bout for Elk Valley Bulls Page 20
FERNIE
Christmas pet parade - Page 9
Council approves deer harvest in Elkford By Tamara Hynd Free Press Staff
T
he District of Elkford will be harvesting up to 50 deer this January under a provincial licence to euthanize deer in town limits. The licence to kill 50 mule deer was issued in October. Three separate deer counts showed there are 78 to 140 deer in Elkford. The last count in September showed deer numbers in Elkford town
limits had lowered so the District is expecting to harvest 30 animals. The meat will be prepared for local food banks. B.C. regulations dictate that no dogs (as is allowed in Alberta), no guns and no archery are allowed with the cull. A clover trap will be used to trap the deer and a captive bolt gun will euthanize each animal. The cull is expected to commence in January 2014 once the contractor is secured.
The deer harvest is motivated by public safety. Reports of aggressive deer attacking people and injuring dogs are the first concern. As the herd becomes unnaturally large there is a greater chance of a tick borne disease. The Committee held a public open house on November 26 to explain the planned deer harvest in January but only six to eight residents attended. “The deer seem to have an issue with people with attachments,”
said Bernie Van Tighem, District staff representative on the Urban Wildlife Management Council Advisory Committee. “Deer have gone after people with strollers and dogs on leashes.” One deer went into a back yard killing a nine-month old puppy and there have been instances where vehicles have been driven between a human and a deer for safety's sake.
Continued on page 12