Montreal to cull more deer in Pointe-aux-Prairies Park
Posted November 4, 2026 11:52 am.
The City of Montreal says it will have to kill more than 100 white-tailed deer in the east of the island.
The operation is expected to take place in the Pointe-aux-Prairies Park as well as in certain adjacent natural areas. The exact dates of the cull are being kept confidential for security reasons, the city said.
The city previously culled deer in that area, in 2024, but it says that did not solve for good the issue of deer overpopulation, which is said to harm biodiversity and has led to road accidents.
“As in 2024, the operation will be carried out by a team of qualified and experienced professional hunters, following a rigorous protocol overseen by the relevant authorities,” the City of Montreal said in a statement. “The operation will take place in the fall, at night, when deer are most active and park visitation is low.”
According to the latest count conducted by the Ministry of the Environment, Wildlife and Parks, there were 211 deer in that green space and its surroundings.
The levels compatible with the natural regeneration of the forests is between five and 7.5 deer per square kilometre, which corresponds to about 20 to 40 deer. The City of Montreal said a maximum of 191 deer will be culled.
“The City does not take the decision to manage the deer population within its territory lightly. This measure is necessary to protect biodiversity and ensure the long-term health of its ecosystems,” the statement said.
“The City’s management decisions regarding this issue are based on scientific data collected in the field and on the condition of the ecosystems involved. Deer culling is currently the only proven method for effectively and rapidly reducing an overabundant deer population. However, the City remains involved in the Healthy Parks research initiative and continues to evaluate other management approaches,” the statement added.
The City said all necessary measures will be taken to ensure a safe operation.
“On the day of the operation, the closing time will be posted at the park entrances. Access points will then be closed and monitored by security officers. Teams will conduct a thorough inspection of the trail network to ensure that no visitors are in the targeted area before operations begin. The SPVM will be present in the area as needed and may intervene if a specific situation requires it.”
More information can be found on the City of Montreal website.
