White tail deer in a wooded area. File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / RonRowanWhite tail deer in a wooded area. File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / RonRowan
Windsor

Point Pelee National Park prepares for annual deer cull

Parks Canada is closing Point Pelee National Park for a week next month to conduct its annual deer cull in partnership with the Caldwell First Nation.

The park will shut down on November 1 and reopen on November 9.

A second deer cull is January 24 to January 31.

Parks Canada is responsible for maintaining and restoring ecological health in the park, while the Caldwell First Nation's traditional territory includes Point Pelee.

It said the current white-tailed deer population is two times higher than what the forest and savannah ecosystems can tolerate, creating a threat to those habitats for the many species that rely on them.

"The deer cull is part of the Hyperabundant Deer Management Program, which has a goal to achieve the health, ecological integrity, and balance of the ecosystem," said Parks Canada. "The program includes many components, such as ecosystem monitoring, deer population monitoring, species at risk protection, and ongoing research and collaboration."

The cull also provides Caldwell First Nation youth with the opportunity to receive mentoring and strengthen traditional connections to the land.

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