Montreal will shoot nearly 150 white-tailed deer

After Longueuil, the city of Montreal will reduce the white-tailed deer population in the east of the island by shooting between 138 and 147 animals next fall.

A technical and scientific committee made these recommendations to the city, which announced on Tuesday that it would move forward with this plan within a few months.

According to the latest count last month by the Ministry of the Environment, there were 140 deer in Pointe-aux-Prairies Park and 25 in Bois d’Anjou.

However, to respect a population density of 5 to 7 deer per square kilometer, it is necessary to kill 117 to 125 in Pointe-aux-Prairies to keep only 15 to 23, and in Anjou 21 to 22 to keep some . 3 to 4.

The current density is 45 animals per square kilometer. The overpopulation of deer is harming biodiversity and leading to the disappearance of several plants, while invasive species are spreading, Laurence Lavigne-Lalonde, head of Large Parks in the city of Montreal’s executive committee, noted at a news conference.

“Since 2021, the deer population has increased by 253%,” she pointed out. When we started the process, in 2021, there were 65 deer, but now their numbers have increased exponentially and we are obliged to take action. »

Collisions

The head of Grands Parcs also underlined that car collisions with deer are becoming increasingly common in the east of the island, raising safety concerns: there were 86 such accidents in 2022 and 2023, according to data from the Société de l ‘assurance auto du Québec (SAAQ).

The city is therefore launching a tender procedure to entrust the task of eliminating surplus deer to a company specialized in this type of urban hunting, she announced. The operation should take place next fall.

Are elected officials in Montreal fearful of demonstrations by certain animal rights activists, given the legal challenge Longueuil faced and the threats that forced Mayor Catherine Fournier to be placed under police protection?

“We know this is a very sensitive and emotional topic, but with the data we have and the scientific opinions we believe we are making the best decision under the circumstances,” M replied.^me Lavigne-Lalonde.

Longueuil changes tone

In addition, the city of Longueuil took advantage of Montreal’s announcement to reveal that it was changing the method of killing surplus white-tailed deer in Michel-Chartrand Park: instead of using crossbows, hunters on behalf of the city will use air rifles .

Longueuil announced last December that it would ramp up its slaughter operation next fall to eliminate about 100 animals after winning its case against opponents following a Court of Appeal decision.