They may wander the streets hungry and looking for food, but do the right thing and avoid feeding those urban-dwelling deer.
The city is reminding both residents and visitors not to feed the deer, as intentional feeding of deer contravenes Cranbrook's Deer Feeding Prohibition Bylaw.
The bylaw, which came into effect back in October 2010, states that no one is to provide deer with food by intentionally leaving food, food waste or other attractive edible material for the sole purpose of feeding deer.
"For example, leaving out a bale of hay, a bag of apples or other compostable food scraps on a residential lot or property where these items are not consistently being grown or produced for human consumption would be seen as an infraction to the bylaw," noted Chris Zettel, the city's corporate communication officer.
He added that farm operations and ornamental plants and flowers, as well as home fruit and vegetable gardens intended for human consumption will not be included as material intended for the sole purpose of feeding deer under the deer feeding bylaw.
Anyone found violating the Deer Feeding Prohibition Bylaw will be committing an offense and can be fined on an escalating fine schedule; $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second, $500 for the third. Each day a violation occurs constitutes a new and separate offense.
To view a copy of the Deer Feeding Prohibition Bylaw 3709, 2010, please visit the City of Cranbrook website at www.cranbrook.ca and click on 'Council Information & Bylaws', under the Links list on the homepage.