Sépaq will slaughter up to 500 white-tailed deer in Montérégie

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The population of white-tailed deer has surged in recent years in the Mont-Saint-Bruno and Îles-de-Boucherville national parks .

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After the City of Longueuil, the Quebec government also intends to cull up to 500 white-tailed deer in two national parks in Montérégie, Mont-Saint-Bruno and Îles-de-Boucherville.

The operation aims to counter the significant negative impacts of deer overpopulation on biodiversity, public health and the herds themselves, indicates the Société des establishments de plein air du Québec (Sépaq).

< p class="StyledBodyHtmlParagraph-sc-48221190-4 hnvfyV">Sépaq mentions, among other things, the degradation of the natural environment due to excessive grazing, the rarefaction of certain plant and animal species, the increased risks of spreading the disease of Lyme and traffic collisions.

These animals have densities of 25 deer/km2 and 40 deer/km2, which goes well beyond the support capacity of the environment.

In the Mont-Saint-Bruno national park, Sépaq counts 335 deer, an increase of 119% in two years. The situation also remains problematic in the Îles-de-Boucherville park, where 436 deer have been recorded, an increase of 49% in two years.

This population control operation aims to ultimately reduce these densities to between 5 to 10 deer/km2, so as to promote the regeneration of vegetation and provide a favorable environment to the presence of different animal species.

Herds are currently growing at a high rate in a predator-free environment, with less harsh winters, which requires rapid intervention, warns Sépaq.

The necessary authorizations were obtained from the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks (MELCCFP), indicates Sépaq.

The slaughter will be done by firearm. The operation was entrusted to a Quebec company of experienced population control specialists.

It is a slaughter which is made necessary, according to the Minister Benoit Charette.

For security reasons, the exact date of the start of the operation has not yet been made public, but the it is indicated that the meat from these deer will be recovered and donated to charitable organizations.

With information from Jacques Bissonnet