Urban Deer

If you experience an aggressive deer incident, defined as “deer chasing, or kicking, at a person or pet resulting in damage or injury,” you should:

1. Call 9-1-1 if you feel threatened or witness someone being threatened by an aggressive deer.
2. Contact the Report-a-Poacher line at 1-800-642-3800 to report the incident.  They will determine if further action is required.
3. Contact Town of Okotoks Parks at 403-938-8958 to have temporary signage posted in the area of the aggressive deer incident to warn others.

Call the Fish & Wildlife Report-A-Poacher line at 1-800-642-3800 to report an injured deer, or one in distress (unable to forage, eat or move around freely), and be able to report the location of the animal.  This line is monitored 24/7 and a wildlife officer will determine if further action is required.

To report a dead deer, call the Town of Okotoks Operations Centre at 403-938-4372 and be able to report the location of the dead animal.  The Town will arrange for collection of the animal.

Feeding wildlife, especially deer, has become more common and problematic recently in some areas in Alberta. Okotoks has a significant population of deer in our area and could be subject to future problems if residents or visitors begin feeding them.  Examples of problems linked to feeding wildlife include:

• Overcrowding and increased incidence of disease in animal populations can be linked to feeding. Ticks can be passed to humans in close contact with infected animals.

• Animals pursuing people and occasionally threatening public safety. Butting or pawing of persons by over-anxious deer may occur, resulting in human injury, particularly to small children and pets.

• High populations of deer may attract predators, like cougars, into populated areas.

To report illegal feeding of deer, contact Municipal Enforcement at 403-938-8913.

Although deer aren’t considered dangerous, they can act aggressively toward people and dogs to protect themselves or their fawns. Here are some strategies to reduce the chance of deer-human conflict:

1. Never feed deer. Feeding deer can cause them to associate people with food; they can act aggressively when hungry. Reliance on unnatural food sources poses challenges for deer in the winter when food sources are less abundant, increasing aggression. 
2. Deter deer from your yard. Plant unpalatable species, remove bird feeders, use tree guards, rake up crab apples (or remove fruit trees altogether). If deer sleep in your yard, place objects randomly like patio furniture to disrupt sleeping areas. Don’t let your dog chase deer out of your yard as this may encourage aggression.
3. Give deer their space. Deer may act aggressively if threatened. When walking, cycling, etc., change your course to give deer as much room as possible. When driving in the presence of deer, slow down.
4. Keep dogs on leash. Unleashed dogs often chase/scare deer causing them to run into traffic or encourage aggression. If a deer approaches a dog on leash, back away and seek an alternate route. Don’t attach your dog leash to yourself.
5. Behaviours to Watch For. If deer feel threatened, their ears will be back and they will stomp their feet and sometimes snort.

Although deer aren’t considered dangerous, they can act aggressively to protect themselves or their fawns. Children and youth should be informed on how to avoid deer conflict when walking to school.

The most important advice is to give deer their space. Deer are wild animals and may act aggressively if they feel threatened. Use the following tips to reduce the possibility of an aggressive deer encounter.

1. Safety in numbers. Walk with others when possible.
2. Change your path to give deer as much room as possible – this may involve crossing to the other side of the street or moving off the pathway system in a park to take a wider route around deer.
3. If you can’t safely go around deer, back off and wait for deer to move on.
4. Never knowingly walk between deer.  Deer may be protective over fawns or other deer and you don’t want to be perceived as a threat.
5. Don’t chase deer. Urban deer are very used to people and may not run off leaving you too close to unafraid deer. Deer that do run off may run into traffic causing an accident.
6. Never feed deer. Feeding deer can help deer associate people with food and they can act aggressively when hungry. 

Report aggressive deer incidents to your teacher or parents. They can further determine if the incident should be reported to the appropriate authorities.

• 9-1-1 if you feel threatened or witness someone being threatened by an aggressive deer.
• Report to the Report-a-Poacher Line at 1-800-642-3800 and staff will determine if further action is required.
• Town of Okotoks Parks 403-938-8958 to have temporary signage posted in the area or the aggressive deer incident to warn others.

1. Spray them with your garden hose; make loud noises (e.g. banging pans/aluminum cans; open/close an umbrella; waving & clapping hands while shouting.

2. Remove attractants such as crab apples, Halloween pumpkins, bird seed, etc.

3. Use scare tactics such as mobile yard ornaments or scarecrows.

4. Try chemical deterrents such as blood meal or Plant Skydd.

5. Plant deer-resistant plant species; click button below to review drought tolerant and deer resistant planting suggestions.

Plant List

This home yard visit program provides customized recommendations to improve deer resistance to yards and gardens. Call Parks to book an appointment: 403.938.8958

Learn how to cultivate a beautiful yard and garden while not increasing deer attraction. The online course provides deer-resistant plant options and deer-deterrent strategies to prevent deer damage. It also covers what the Town has been implementing to assist residents in learning how to successfully live with urban deer.

Gardening with Deer webinar

Why is there a 1.2-metre chain-link fence along open spaces?

• Historically the Town required chain-link fences along open spaces, especially pathway corridors, to prevent contrasting fence styles and allow light and visibility to the parks and pathways. The Town is starting to phase out this requirement for new development areas.

 When would fencing changes to the Land Use Bylaw take effect?

• The changes adopted by Council are now in effect and only apply to fences constructed or modified after June 12, 2023. The changes cannot be enforced retroactively. Anyone planning to construct a new or replacement fence must meet the requirements in place at the time of construction, Landowners should consult the Okotoks Land Use Bylaw (link) or contact Community Growth and Investment to confirm requirements.

What about restrictive covenants and architectural controls?

• Although the Town does not regulate the exact colour or type of fencing through the Land Use Bylaw, the developer of your neighbourhood may have by way of a restrictive covenant. A restrictive covenant is a document that is registered on a land title that places a restriction on the property. Please review the restrictive covenant registered to your land title, which speaks to the property owners' responsibility for fencing, etc. You can obtain a copy of your land title and any restrictive covenants from a Registries Agent, Land Titles Office or online at SPIN2.
   
• Most properties in Okotoks that back onto open space have restrictive covenants registered on their title that prohibit the modification of their fence. While the Town has historically required restrictive covenants on properties with chain-link fences to ensure property owners do not change the style of fence, the Town will not take enforcement action for any modification. However, other landowners that are party to the same restrictive covenant can enforce it through the courts at their discretion so it is recommended to talk to your neighbours if planning to change your chain-link fencing to a different style.
   
• A property may have other limitations that limit changes to fences that are not under the Town’s control, such as architectural controls placed on the title by a developer or condominium bylaws where properties are part of a bare land condominium.  

What were the specific recommendations of the Urban Deer Task Force (UDTF)?

• The UDTF recommended the implementation of both temporary and permanent deer resistant fencing options to protect gardens and limit deer access to artificial food sources.
   
• The full list of recommendations can be found in the 2021 Urban Deer Task Force Final Report and Recommendations.

What are the current requirements for fencing in the Okotoks Land Use Bylaw?

• In general, residential fences can be a maximum of 1.0 metres high in a primary frontage (front yard), and a maximum of 2.3 metres high on any other portion of a site (rear and side yards) for open style fences and 2.0 metres high for all other fence types. For specific cases and interpretation, please refer to the Okotoks Land Use Bylaw or contact Community Growth and Investment by clicking the button below or calling 403-995-2760. 

Click the button below to submit any questions you have about changes to fencing requirements:

Contact Us

Either temporary or permanent deer deterrent fences may be constructed up to a height of 2.3 m in the side or rear yard, and 1.0 m in the front yard provided the structure:

• is an open style fence if over 2.0 m in height in the side or rear yard;
   
• is well maintained and not allowed to degrade or become unsightly;
   
• does not create a safety issue for deer or the public, such as the potential for a deer to become trapped or injured, unreasonable risk of injury to park users or maintenance staff, or obstructing sightlines for vehicles at intersections; and
• does not encroach outside of the property line.

Residents may also install deer deterrent fencing within their property surrounding garden plots or mesh coverings of gardens separate from property fences provided the height of the fences do not exceed the height limits of the Land Use Bylaw.

Deer deterrent extensions to existing perimeter fences, based on the recommendations of the Town’s Urban Deer Task Force, include:

• Animal netting barrier mounted to metal posts and fastened to existing fence posts in a manner that can be removed without ground rehabilitation.
   
• 32 inch (0.81 m) finial garden metal edges attached to the top of existing black chain link fences with quick ties or similar temporary measures. The finial garden metal edges must have smooth edges along the top and not have any spikes or sharp points along the top that could cause injury to deer.
   
• Metal page wire attached to the top of existing chain link fencing with temporary supports.
   
• Multiple single strands of twine spaced about six inches apart, and attached to metal support rods. Natural string products, like jute string, that have a low breaking strength of 30 lbs or less are preferred. Twine should also be highlighted with bright or white

Any deer deterrent fencing or extensions to fences must not contain barbed or razor wire and must not be electrified.