A landscaping company from Nanaimo believes it has a solution that may help deal with the city’s ongoing problem with deer, and the cougars that hunt them.
Bill Gilfoy, owner of Progressive Landscapes, has devised a deer-resistant garden box system for a client in the Departure Bay area, where the highest concentrations of urban deer are being reported.
His design is attracting plenty of interest from neighbours who have been coping with deer raiding their vegetable gardens for years.
Gilfoy, who has 10 years experience in landscaping and opened his own business last year, has constructed a 240 square-foot, three-tiered vegetable garden surrounded by fencing that deer can’t get through.
He said he used his background in construction to devise the garden, which he just completed last week, and the design is quickly gaining interest.
“There was a lot of people stopping in their vehicles to have a look when we were in the final stages of construction,” he said.
“I grow a lot of my own food and I’m always encouraging people to have their own gardens to help then maintain self-sustainable lifestyles, so it’s great if I can help those with home gardens out in this way.”
The proliferation of urban deer in Nanaimo, particularly in the north end and the Hammond Bay area, has led to a number of problems recently.
City bylaw officers recently issued a warning to an Icarus Drive resident this week for illegally feeding deer after a cougar, lured by easy prey, was trapped and killed by conservation officers.
As well, according to recent statistics, almost 200 deer carcasses have been picked up in Nanaimo by Coastal Animal Services in 2013, most of which were hit by cars.
RBarron@nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4234
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