Montreal Suburb Initiates Polarizing Deer Cull in Effort to Lower Numbers at Neighborhood Park

October 22, 2024 TruthUSA

A Montreal suburb has initiated an operation to eliminate white-tailed deer in one of its local parks, following years of legal disputes with activists fighting to protect the animals.

A spokesperson for the City of Longueuil has confirmed that Michel-Chartrand park is closed until further notice while hunters equipped with air rifles reduce the herd size.

The city, located just south of Montreal, has been attempting a cull since 2020 but faced backlash and legal challenges from animal rights groups regarding the fate of the deer.

Earlier this month, the city announced that it had obtained a permit from the provincial Environment Department to proceed with the operation, marking the final step necessary to start the cull.

The city has consistently stated that the white-tailed deer population has exceeded the park’s capacity, causing harm to the ecosystem and increasing the risk of road accidents and Lyme disease.

Animal rights activists advocated for the city to relocate the surplus deer instead of killing them, but their efforts were ultimately rejected last year by Quebec’s Court of Appeal.