Point Pelee National Park will be closed to all visitors between January 5 and January 20 for a deer cull.
Parks Canada and the Caldwell First Nation will be conducting deer population reduction activities to maintain the ecological health in the park.
"A high population (hyperabundance) of white-tailed deer in Point Pelee National Park is a serious threat to forest and savannah health and the species that depend on these precious habitats," said Parks Canada.
The high dear population are consuming and damaging native plants faster than they can regenerate and are threatening the health of the forest.
According to research done by Parks Canada, Point Pelee National Park can support around 24-32 deer. Currently the deer herd population is two times higher than this target. Point Pelee National Park is home to a large amount of leafy vegetation, experiences mild winters, and, most importantly, lacks natural predators such as wolves, bears and cougars which would have normally kept the deer population in balance.
Parks Canada works with Caldwell First Nation to manage the deer population and protect the park's ecosystem.
