A problem Deer to this locality

Angry letters have been exchanged in the pages of the local press. Well, as angry as Canadians ever become without resorting to firearms. The cause? One population which seems to be thumbing it's metaphorical nose at extinction scares, to wit; the local Black Tailed Deer.

As you can see, they're quite unabashed by the local human population, and seem to be thriving despite calls for a cull from local gardeners outraged at these saucy even toed ungulates munching their way through the tulips every spring.

These pictures, and a few more besides, were taken around 3:30 Pacific Standard Time in suburban North Nanaimo. The week before, a similar family grouping held up traffic on a main route just off the Island highway. Only one driver sounded his horn at them, the rest simply stopped and waited while the buck and three hinds of the group sauntered from one grazing spot to the other.

Me? I don't mind one way or the other. But it's nice to know if everything does go pear shaped economically as some of the prophets of doom would have us think, there's a ready supply of fresh meat within easy reach. Hey, not only that, it's organic.