The slowness of government authorities to tackle the overpopulation of white-tailed deer in Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville is now causing the problem to spill over to the south shore. So much so that several deer are now stuck in a residential area of Boucherville, while others have drowned or been hit by cars. But for the moment, nothing is planned to resolve the situation.
In De La Broquerie Park, located along Marie-Victorin Boulevard, in Boucherville, one could easily count about fifteen deer when the Duty, last Friday. There were adults, young and at least one visibly pregnant female. All these not very shy animals attract the curious, some of whom have taken the illegal habit of feeding them.
A situation that does not surprise Sylvain Laganière, a citizen of the residential area in the heart of which is the small park surrounded by single-family homes. “They crossed in February, when there was ice on the St. Lawrence River, between here and Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville. But the ice melted, and they are now stuck here,” he explains.
The overabundance of deer is a regional problem. It extends well beyond the borders of national parks.
It is not the first time that he has seen deer crossing the small river section in winter, but this year, he judges that the situation is worse than in the past. “It’s the winter desert for them, so they put their fear aside and cross to avoid starving to death in the park,” according to Mr. Laganière. The latter has also seen deer drown and he specifies that about fifteen collisions with cars have been listed in the sector.
For neighborhood residents, deer have also become a nuisance. “During the night, they come to our land and eat cedar hedges or shrubs that are not protected. Sometimes, we also see them in broad daylight, because they get used to our presence, ”explains Sylvain Laganière, during a visit to the streets located around De La Broquerie Park. Many have in fact installed elaborate systems of fences three or four meters high, in order to protect their trees or their land.
In the communications department of the City of Boucherville, we say we are aware of the situation. It is added that the deer should return by themselves to the national park this spring, by swimming, crossing a stretch of the St. Lawrence River. For those who decide to stay in Boucherville, we emphasize that there would be enough green spaces to accommodate them. The whole sector is nevertheless densely developed and located not far from Route 132.
The Society of Outdoor Establishments of Quebec (SEPAQ) responds for its part that it is responsible only for what happens on the territories of the national parks under its responsibility, but also that “it is not the owner of the deer present on its territory and their movement is not controlled”.
Overcrowding
While it is difficult to predict what will happen to deer visibly stuck in a residential sector of Boucherville, we know that Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville has been grappling with a serious deer overpopulation problem for several years now. of Virginia.
According to data provided by SEPAQ and based on an inventory carried out in 2021, there are more than 300 deer there. This means that the density is 30 animals per square kilometer, six times the number that this ecosystem could support. Result: Every winter, deer starve to death, especially young ones, has already reported The duty through information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.
To reduce this growing herd to a viable level, and thus protect the vegetation and other species of this national park, it would be necessary to eliminate 250 deer. A selective hunting “pilot project” had been mentioned in the spring of 2020, a few months before the start of the deer saga in Michel-Chartrand Park, in Longueuil. This case is far from being settled, since it will be debated in Superior Court in April, in the wake of legal proceedings launched by opponents of the slaughter of deer.
Nobody seems to want to take care of the problem. Everyone washes their hands of it.
In the case of Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville, SEPAQ told us twice in 2022 that an “intervention plan” was planned for the fall of 2022. However, no hunting operation has been carried out on this territory under provincial authority. For what ? “A regulatory amendment must be made by the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks in order to allow the completion of this operation, which is now scheduled for fall 2023”, answers the SEPAQ.
“This is an unprecedented and complex operation in urban national parks that requires careful planning,” it adds, without mentioning whether deer will be killed. It is simply referred to as “an intervention to reduce the herd”. Such an operation would also be planned in the Parc national du Mont-Saint-Bruno, due to the overpopulation of deer within the limits of this other park in the region. “The overabundance of deer is a regional problem. It goes far beyond the borders of the national parks”, insists the SEPAQ.
The Quebec Ministry of the Environment also admits that the regulations governing national parks must be amended before an intervention plan can be prepared. “Regulations do not currently allow the carrying of weapons or hunting gear in a national park,” it says by email. It is not specified when the government could modify the rules in force, but it is ensured that the “intervention” is planned for the fall of 2023 in the two national parks.
Sylvain Laganière hopes that the authorities will act quickly, even if he says he does not feel that they are listening to this file. “Nobody seems to want to deal with the problem. Everyone washes their hands of it. But what will happen this summer? In De La Broquerie Park, there are many activities. There are people with their dogs, etc. The deer can’t stay there. »