Wildlife management:
the same old story

Environmentalists and animal advocacy specialists continue to be excluded from decision-making

By Georges Dupras

December 18, 2024

Here we go again with the same old story that sees environmentalists and animal advocacy specialists excluded from decision-making on matters pertaining to wildlife management. It would be a disservice to the public to suggest that only government authorities have the necessary qualifications and experience to deal with wildlife issues.

Humans, the true invasive species, are responsible for most imbalances and a number of forest fires in the wild. On this occasion, I will refer to the killing of white-tail deer in the Longueuil region of Montreal. We are told that the deer have overpopulated and are damaging the environment. The Mayor of Longueuil tells us that she has been trying to instigate a cull of the white-tail deer since 2020.

It would be a disservice to the public to suggest that only government authorities have the necessary qualifications and experience to deal with wildlife issues.

OVERPOPULATION

There is much discussion among those in the wildlife field as to what constitutes overpopulation. Hunters argue that a species is overpopulated if their numbers can withstand a hunt while others argue the humanness of killing.

TIME WARP

The reasons for the Longueuil kill are predicated on the old government standbys which include overpopulation, car deer collisions and Lyme disease. On this occasion, they added changing vegetation. The argument of overpopulation may well have merit, however, humans are in large part responsible for the development of deer habitat.

SENTIENT BEINGS

Justice Bernard Jolin argued while the law recognizes animals as sentient beings, it does not recognize their right to an interest in living. The city of Longueuil will soon present a revised plan to proceed with the hunt.

LACK OF FORESIGHT

Officials, mandated by Parks Canada, SEPAC (Quebec’s Park Management Agency) and the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) should have acted five years ago to reduce the deer population humanely. By reducing the numbers humanely through sterilization, immunization, and relocation, used with success in British Columbia, we could have bypassed any need for shooters.

‘By reducing the numbers humanely through sterilization, immunization, and relocation, used with success in British Columbia, we could have bypassed any need for shooters.’

CHASING WINDMILLS

I grow more concerned every time I hear that controlling wildlife will take priority over other responsibilities. Are Canada’s wildlife services’ seeking job security? SEPAC of Quebec plans on shooting 287 deer in an area south of Montreal to protect other species, not yet impacted by chronic wasting disease.

LYME DISEASE

Lyme disease is well beyond my pay scale so I will leave that to others.

VEGETATION

Changing vegetation, due to wildlife and environmental changes, is recognized, with some caution, as part of environmental fluctuation. This was noticed when studying elephants and their effect on the landscape by knocking down or uprooting trees in Africa. What some see as a negative might be essential in maintaining a vibrant, healthy habitat.

CAR DEER COLLISION

Roadkill occurrences can be reduced using the “slow down and live” approach. Special signage and fencing (seen in other jurisdictions) can be effective. Wildlife crossings are another option that shows encouraging results. If people could only accept that driving and texting are not compatible.

DAMAGE TO ECOLOGY

As to damaging the park’s ecosystem, this was refuted by wildlife biologists who recognized that ecosystems were meant to develop, and this they concluded after studying the effects of forest fires. A major preoccupation is the speed at which these changes occur.

‘I grow more concerned every time I hear that controlling wildlife will take priority over other responsibilities. Are Canada’s wildlife services’ seeking job security?’

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AND COUNTING

Over the past century much has changed in the workplace. Whether you are a blue-collar, white or no-collar worker, you have had to adapt to technical innovations faster than you were able to. Yet still you work with these changes. Wildlife administrators and elected representatives who refuse to change will soon join the ranks of the dinosaurs.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of WestmountMag.ca or its publishers.

Feature image: White-tailed deer, by Aaron J Hill – Pexels

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Georges R. Dupras has worked in the interest of animals, and the environment for almost 60 years. He has lobbied governments both here and abroad and presented a brief before the Royal Commission on Seals and Sealing in Canada. Georges continues to fight industries that exploit animals and destroy the habitats that sustain them.