A planned deer herd reduction is closing Rondeau Provincial Park on Saturday and Sunday, according to an advisory at the park’s website.
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The reduction of the deer herd will be done in partnership with the Eelūnaapèewii Lahkèewiit (Delaware Nation at Moraviantown First Nation), states information on the provincial park’s Facebook page.
“The park will be closed to the public for the entirety of these two days,” stated the advisory.
The park will reopen to the public on Monday at 8:30 am, the advisory added.
“Public safety is the utmost priority for the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and Ontario Parks,” the advisory said. “Therefore, all access points will be monitored by park staff and public entry will be prohibited.”
For safety reasons, the public is asked not to enter the park and to comply with all posted notices, the advisory said.
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Park closures are authorized under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006.
The Chatham Daily News was unable to reach Rondeau Provincial Park officials regarding information on the number of deer estimated to be in the park and the number that need to be harvested.
Ministry officials have stated in the past deer herd reductions are required because a high deer population generates major pressure on the park’s “ecological integrity.”
The ministry also has noted in the past that reducing the number of deer ensures the deer population remains healthy and the park’s environment is not negatively impacted by deer over-browsing.
The deer herd reduction program has been in place at Rondeau since 1998 in partnership with Delaware Nation at Moraviantown.
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