The fallow deer were introduced on neighbouring James Island in 1902 by the owner at the time as prey for hunting parties. The spotted deer with impressive antlers invaded Sidney Island in the early 1960s, when ponds were dug and the first standing fresh water became available to sustain them.
Their numbers grew to the thousands in the 1980s, causing Sidney Island’s Garry oak meadows, Douglas firs and dozens of native plant species to suffer or disappear.
Although controlled hunting and periodic culls over the years have reduced their numbers to an estimated 400 to 500, serious steps are now in the works for a final roundup to destroy all remaining stock. It would likely happen in the fall of 2022, after details of the method of killing have been determined and a consensus with stakeholders reached.