Article content
Point Pelee National Park is closed to visitors until January 21 for an annual deer kill.
Article content
The culling is carried out in conjunction with Caldwell First Nation to ensure the long-term health of the park’s ecosystems.
Parks Canada is responsible for maintaining and restoring ecological health in national parks. A high population of white-tailed deer is a serious threat to the health of the forest and savanna at Point Pelee. Through overhunting, deer in the park are consuming and damaging native plants faster than they can regenerate, threatening the health of the Carolina Forest, which is home to a number of endangered species, such as the Mulberry. Red, the Eastern Forest. pewee and eastern fox snake. Deer are also jeopardizing efforts to restore the Lake Erie Sand Spit Savannah savannah, a globally rare ecosystem that supports 25% of the species at risk in the park.
Article content
Based on over 30 years of research and monitoring, a healthy and balanced environment at Point Pelee would ideally support 24 to 32 deer.
Point Pelee is home to a great deal of lush vegetation, experiences mild winters, and most importantly, lacks natural predators like wolves, bears, and cougars that would have normally controlled the deer population. The current population of the deer herd is estimated to be twice this target.
Population reduction is reserved for times of absolute necessity and Parks Canada has been collaborating with Caldwell First Nation for several years to actively manage the deer population to protect the park’s sensitive ecosystems.
A dedicated COVID-19 mitigation plan has been developed in accordance with public health guidance and will be implemented to ensure the safety of Caldwell First Nation staff and partners.
Article content
The deer reduction activity is part of a larger ongoing initiative to improve the health of Point Pelee, which includes planting native Carolina species and removing invasive plants. Across Canada, protected areas like Point Pelee have an important role to play in helping to protect and restore healthy and resilient ecosystems and contribute to the recovery of species at risk.
For more information, including up-to-date information on park closings, visit the park’s website at www.pc.gc.ca/peleec , or contact Point Pelee National Park at [email protected] or 519-322-2365.
Reference-windsorstar.com