Hi All
This message is posted with the permission of the coordinator for ONTBIRDS.
The park will be closed during the week as noted below for a two week time
period, starting MONDAY, January 24th. I will post again if the park is
reopened earlier than is scheduled below.
Good Birding everyone!
Sarah
DEER HERD REDUCTION IN
POINT PELEE NATIONAL PARK OF CANADA
LEAMINGTON, ONTARIO, January 17, 2005 – As part of the Point Pelee National
Park ecosystem conservation program, a reduction of the park’s population
of white-tailed deer will be conducted between January 24 and February 04,
2005.
The current deer population exceeds the recommended range of twenty four to
thirty two animals that park habitats can support. Active management of the
herd is critical to ecosystem conservation in the park. Deer numbers
greater than the identified range lead to over-browsing of the vegetation,
jeopardizing the future composition and diversity of forest and savannah
plant communities including many rare and endangered species. Point Pelee
National Park is one of the few remaining locations in Southwestern Ontario
where once prevalent ‘Carolinian’ vegetation communities still occur.
The park continues to monitor research on other methods of controlling deer
numbers. Until another methodology is proven to safely, effectively, and
economically maintain deer numbers within the acceptable range, Point Pelee
National Park will continue to reduce its deer herd as part of the park’s
ecosystem conservation program.
Park hours of operation:
To allow park staff to complete the reduction while ensuring public safety,
the park will be closed to visitors as follows:
Monday through Friday
January 24-28 and January 31-February 04: Park closed to public
Saturday and Sunday
January 29 and 30 and February 05 onward: Park open to public; Daily 7:00am
to 6:30pm
Regular winter hours will resume on February 5, 2005. If the herd
reduction is completed and the park can be re-opened before February 5,
2005, the media will be advised accordingly.
Sarah Rupert
Sr. Park Interpreter/Education Coordinator/
Interprète de parc principal - Coordonnatrice - Programmes éducatif
Point Pelee National Park of Canada/Parc national du Canada de la
Pointe-Pelée
Leamington, Ontario
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
519-322-5700 ext 13
