Karmactive Staff
The Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (SEPAQ) has acquired the permit to kill up to 287 white-tailed deers over the winter of 2024.
Photo Source: Google
This is being done in order to reduce the overpopulation of these deers in the Îles-de-Boucherville and Mont-Saint-Bruno national parks.
The Crown corporation has previously culled 399 white-tailed deer in the last year.
The density of the white-tailed deer in these two national parks is an average of 17 deer per square kilometer (km²) while the ideal density should be 5 to 10 deer/km²
The meat of the slaughtered animals will be distributed free of charge through the Fédération québécoise des chasseurs et des pêcheurs du Québec under the Chasseurs généreux program.
These efforts of population control are meant to help fight the increased risks of Lyme disease, road collisions, damage to neighboring properties and crops.
Reports reflect that more than 55,000 white-tailed deer were killed in Quebec in 2023 as part of recreational hunting.
The overpopulation of these mammals is causing excessive browsing which can be detrimental to the park's fauna and flora.
The method used to cull these animals is precision shooting, which is a respectful approach to animal welfare as vouched for by major veterinary associations.