Loose dogs are killing deer, says conservation official

Loose dogs are chasing and killing deer in the heavy spring snow, says a Department of Natural Resources representative.

Eric Sullivan, a biologist with the department, has been monitoring deer kills in the area.

He said it is instinctive for a loose dog to chase after a wild animal.

"People think it's never their dogs."

And although it is a problem year-round, he said changing snow conditions are making the problem worse.

"This time of year it's especially critical."

Sullivan said deer are at their lowest energy reserves at this time of year and any extra stress can lower their chances of survival, even if the dogs don't catch them.

Dogs can run along on top of the snow while deer fall through and can't get away, he said.

"Often they're killed."

Sullivan said it is a problem all over the province, but there are places where it is worse.

"We do have hot spots that come back every year."

People need to be educated, he said, but he is not sure what it is going to take for people to get the message.

"This is a problem."

Sullivan said there were probably 15-20 deer killed in the last week.

"Those are just the ones we've been finding."

People report incidents when they see them and that means they don't find the ones that happen back in the woods, he said.

"A lot of it's happening around communities."

Sullivan said in the past, the Department of Natural Resources has run radio ads, posted information on their website and they now include information in their hunting and trapping summary booklet to try and educate the public.

People know it is a problem, he said.

"It's just some people choose to ignore it."

Michael Cain, the regional conservation manager for Miramichi district, said there are consequences for owners who let their dogs run free.

Wildlife enforcement officers don't have to prove a dog is actively pursuing a wild animal for them to fine the dog's owner, he said.

"Any time a dog is allowed to go unsupervised there is the potential to be charged under the Fish and Wildlife Act."

Cain said they approach everyone with an unchained dog but don't enforce the law as much in the summer.

"We try to use common sense."

The fines range from $100 to $300 and conservation officers have the authority to destroy dogs, he said.

Cain said a dog would have to be actively in pursuit of wildlife for an officer to shoot a dog and very few incidents come to that, he said.

"That's used as a method of last resort."

Conservation officers always prefer to follow an animal home, charge the owners and, if possible, turn the dog over to the local dog catcher, he said.

Cain said they can't do that if the dog is dead.

"It's not the preferred option."