Parks Canada and Caldwell First Nation will be conducting the annual deer cull requiring a short-term closure of the park in November 2025. Deer cull operations at Point Pelee National Park are planned collaboratively by Parks Canada and Caldwell First Nation, based on ongoing monitoring of both the ecosystem and the deer population.

These efforts are guided by the shared goals of restoring ecological balance and supporting food sustainability for Caldwell First Nation.

Public safety is of the utmost importance to Parks Canada and Caldwell First Nation. Point Pelee National Park will be closed to visitors between November 14 and November 21, 2025, inclusive, during the deer cull. The park will reopen on November 22, 2025. A second deer cull may take place in January of 2026.

Parks Canada has been collaborating with Caldwell First Nation since 2015 to actively manage the deer population to protect the park’s sensitive ecosystems. The deer cull provides an opportunity for Indigenous Stewardship, advancing reconciliation and supporting implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

Through shared decision making, Parks Canada and Caldwell First Nation have a shared goal to achieve the health and balance of the ecosystem, by reducing the white-tailed deer population. The program includes many components such as ecosystem monitoring, deer population monitoring, species at risk protection, and ongoing research and collaboration.

The deer cull provides opportunities for Caldwell First Nation to mentor youth and strengthen traditional connections to the land, in addition to sharing knowledge and expertise with Parks Canada.

Through this program, Parks Canada is supporting Indigenous-led stewardship that reflects deep cultural, spiritual, and ecological connections to the land. The culling of deer provides nourishment, reinforces traditional practices, and strengthens community resilience.

More information about hyperabundant species in Point Pelee National Park.