Deer wandering the streets of Haliburton are nothing new. After all, the town is built in deer habitat – in the hills and along the edges of forests. While well-meaning residents and seasonal visitors have delighted in feeding them for decades, but some say the practice has resulted in serious consequences. Vehicles collisions and devastation of prized gardens have made deer public enemy number one to some residents.
In the summer of 2023 Dysart Council issued a complete ban on deer feeding within the town’s boundaries. More than a year later, the ban is still a contentious issue. Praised by some, many others have condemned it, saying they simply want to help deer survive. In a number of cases, the ban has pitted neighbor against neighbor, ruined friendships and created a “snitch culture”.
