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Watch: Deer spotted strolling down city streets in North Vancouver

Was it trying to buy wine for a stag party? Residents were surprised to see a deer wandering around Central Lonsdale in North Van.
Nick Laba
Nick Laba

A deer outside a wine store in North Vancouver might have lost its way, or maybe it was there to pick up bottles for a stag party?

Video shared by city resident Nick Martin on Tuesday afternoon shows a deer walking outside the Liberty Wines store on 13th Street near Lonsdale Avenue in the urban heart of the City of North Vancouver.

“[It] just wants some wine,” someone shouts in the video clip.

Before the video started, the deer was walking up Lonsdale, Martin said.

“After the video ended it took off pretty quick down 13th [Street] and hopped out of sight,” he said.

Martin said this particular deer is a regular in the busy urban area.

“Funnily enough, I had bumped into this exact deer on Saturday while walking the dog along the Spirit Trail near Moodyville,” he said.

While he can’t confirm the deer’s identity for certain, its antlers look the same and it’s rare to see one walking around this part of North Van, he said.

“You’ll see deer out near Deep Cove along Dollarton Highway, but never this close to Lonsdale,” he said. “I can’t imagine there’s more than one in the area.”

Don’t feed the deer, city staff say

While it’s rare to see deer in this area, City of North Vancouver bylaw manager Paul Duffy said he has spotted the same animal himself.

“A couple of weeks ago I was biking up Queensbury [Avenue] and he popped out at Queensbury and Third,” he said.

Deer usually hang out near ravines and wooded areas, but this one has been spotted roaming Lower Lonsdale and The Shipyards, Duffy said.

“He or she keeps walking around and is not very phased by people,” he said.

The deer is probably in the urban area because people have been feeding it, Duffy said.

“We ask that people don’t feed the deer,” he said. “It may seem friendly enough but ultimately it’s hurting the deer if it’s getting an unnatural food source.”

If you see the deer in public, keep your distance and slowly back away if it comes close, Duffy said.

At this point, the deer hasn’t been aggressive or caused any major disruptions, so the city is leaving it alone, but conservation officers could be called in if that changes, he said.