The City of Kimberley has named the members of the Urban Deer Committee who will attempt to come to some consensus on what to do about the steadily increasing deer population in Kimberley.

"We had 18 applicants," said Mayor Jim Ogilvie. "It was hard to choose. We really appreciate everyone who put their name forward."

The City will expect the committee to begin meeting almost immediately and have a full report with recommendations for Council by the spring.

Named to the committee are:

Ron Kerr - He has been involved with the Kimberley Trap and Skeet Club and the North West Outdoors Writers Association. He also has experience with BC Parks.

Larry Foster - He is a longtime Marysville resident with a history of involvement in many different community organizations.

Leigh Anne Isaac - She has a PhD in Biology and has worked for the Ministry of Environment as a research scientist and writer. She is currently with the Columbia Mountains Institute and the Kootenay Invasive Plant Council.

Shaunna McInnis - She is most well known in Kimberley as the voice of Bear Aware and is also with the Invasive Plant Council.

Bill Roberts - He is a longtime Kimberley resident and with the Sullivan Underground Mining Railway.

Desiree McKay - She is another longtime Kimberley resident and volunteer. She has also been keeping a journal of deer in her neighbourhood for many years.

Bob Misuraca - He is a familiar face in Kimberley, now retired from Chalet GM and prior to that the College of the Rockies. He was a member of the Economic Advisory Committee and is an avid outdoorsman and hunter.

Marysville resident Irene Teske will sit on the committee for the Ministry of Environment.

"We tried to get a good mix of people and people who we felt could work together," Ogilvie said. "We would like them to come to a consensus."

One thing the committee will likely recommend is that a count be conducted. It's hard to really know what to do until you know the extent of the problem, says Chief Administrative Officer Al Mulholland.

"We need to know the population density in different areas," he said. "People want a reduction, but a reduction from what?"

While the recent survey on urban deer definitely pointed to people wanting to see a reduction in deer numbers, it will be up to the committee to decide just how that will be accomplished.

Ogilvie says the committee will have the full Ministry of Environment report on urban ungulates and some outlines of management plans.

"But everything has to be tailored to us," he said.