What do Seniors, The Disabled/Differently Abled and Deer have in Common?

Answer: The Nature Conservancy of Canada wants nothing to do with you.

...Except for your donations of course!  

How else can you explain all of the barriers and fences with which they are surrounding their properties?  This year alone, NCC has installed countless miles of fencing in Norfolk County and every entrance to a property has a gate denying access to the Elderly and Disabled/Differently Abled.  The baby fawns simply die alongside the fence as their mothers bound over them leaving them behind.

The below image is the entrance to the Backus Woods trail.  The NCC purchased this more than 900 acre property with a very generous donation from the W. Garfield Weston Foundation and a sweet heart of a deal from The Long Point Region Conservation Authority.  Immediately following the sale, gates were installed barring entry.  We understand that it is to be open to vehicular traffic on Mother's Day only.  Sorry Dad's, it's closed for Father's Day, so take a hike.  You're not welcome here either.

As one prominent local lawyer stated "This is creating two classes of citizen's.  One with keys and one without.".  Unfortunately the lawyer himself is denied access to the trail as he requires a walker to get around.



If you've never been to this trail you really should go before you physically can't.  It's one of the best examples of Norfolk's beautiful landscape.  The rolling hills of forest growing in the sand scape down to the mist rising off of the swamp alongside the road.

Previous to NCC buying it, it was open to everyone and it's a shame that people with limited mobility can no longer visit there.  Almost 20% of the residents in Norfolk County are senior citizens according to a recent census.

It would be interesting to know if The Nature Conservancy of Canada also discriminates against persons with disabilities in their hiring practice as well?  Ontario may have The Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 but it must not apply to the NCC.  They seem to have their own laws.

According to the USDA  the appropriate wildlife friendly fencing should be as follows for woven fencing:

• No more than 40-42” high to allow for jumping
• The fence should be at least 18” off the ground to allow smaller animals to crawl under.
• White markers should be placed on the tops as these are more visible to animals

Where ungulates (deer, elk, moose, etc.) were found dead next to, but not in fences, on average 1 ungulate per year dies for every 1.2 miles of fence.

90% of carcasses found near fences were fawns lying in a curled position, probably separated from mothers when they could not cross.

The majority of these were found next to woven wire fences.  (Courtesy of USDA)

The source document can be found here.
Please be aware that some of the images are very graphic and not intended for sensitive citizens.

With fences forcing animals to concentrate or direct to one area, a neighbour situated in the path could find themselves in the middle of a Coyote Alley.

Maybe the Top Brass at The Nature Conservancy of Canada are just poor shots and realize it's easier to kill a deer by driving them into a fence to slow them down.