Management Plan for the Overabundant Deer Population – Grosse-Île National Historic Site and the Irish Memorial

Since the introduction of the white-tailed deer on an island of the archipelago, a population of white-tailed deer has established itself on Grosse-Île during the 1980s, and it continues to grow in the absence of predators and hunting in this protected island territory. However, the impact of browsing and trampling on forest regeneration and floristic species of interest or at risk has been observed since the early 2000s. This problem has intensified over the years and is likely to irreversibly alter the ecosystem over time, despite past and occasional population reduction interventions already conducted in 2003 and then in 2012. Moreover, this high concentration of deer in a restricted area raises significant public safety issues for staff transportation. A management plan for the overabundant deer population is in preparation with the aim of reducing and maintaining the Virginia deer population at an acceptable density, thru controlled hunting. The control measures planned in the management plan will have the positive effect of significantly reducing threats to the ecosystem and public safety for the years 2025-2035. The management plan will include, if necessary, annual reductions in the deer population and will allow for sustained efforts over time to approach a theoretically sustainable population density for the environment.

Latest update

February 1, 2026– The authority issued its Notice of Determination and determined that the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

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Contacts

Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site
Grosse Île
Saint-Antoine-de-l'Isle-aux-Grues, Quebec G0R 1P0
Email: quebec.information.ei-ia@pc.gc.ca


Disclaimer

This map is for illustrative purposes. The markers represent the approximate locations based on available data. More than one marker may be identified for a given assessment.

  • Location

    • Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site of Canada (Quebec)

  • Nature of Activity

    • Other, not otherwise specified

  • Assessment Status

    Completed

  • Start Date

    2025-10-21

  • Proponent

    Parks Canada

  • Authorities

    • Parks Canada Agency

  • Assessment Type

    Project on federal lands

  • Reference Number

    89952

Nearby assessments

...within 200 kilometres
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