Judge says Longueuil deer cull can go ahead; SPCA to appeal decision
Posted October 5, 2022 9:47 am.
Last Updated October 5, 2022 6:48 pm.
A Quebec Superior Court judge ruled in favour of culling about 60 deer in Michel-Chartrand Park in Longueuil.
An animal rights group had been fighting in court to keep the deer alive, asking the judge for an extension on the killings, in order to find an alternative to save the deer.
Meanwhile, the City of Longueuil says it will be moving ahead with its plan to cull the deer, to reduce the herd.
Arguing there is not enough food in the park to feed the growing population.
Animal rights groups argue safer alternatives would include neutering the deer and transporting them to a new location.
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The SPCA says it intends to appeal the judge’s decision.
“Despite this first setback before the Superior Court, the Montreal SPCA is not ready to give up on this case,” Sophie Gaillard, acting executive director at the Montreal SPCA, said in a statement.
“The case of the deer in Michel-Chartrand Park is emblematic of an issue that is becoming more prevalent in Quebec, and our intervention aims to broaden the debate and trigger a real reflection on the responsible and ethical management of wildlife in our communities.”
The fight to save the deer has been ongoing since 2020.
The city of Longueuil has not released its exact plans yet.
