For the first time in two weeks, Point Pelee National Park will reopen to the public Saturday morning.
It shut down earlier in the month for a deer hunt, but Parks Canada said it, and the Caldwell First Nation made a joint decision to end the cull earlier than planned.
The agency and the First Nation carry out a deer hunt annually to control the population of White Tail deer in the park. The eco-system can support up to 32 deer, but the population was double that.
The hunt is part of an ongoing initiative to improve the health of the forest and savannah ecosystems where a number of at-risk species can be found, including the Eastern Foxsnake and the Red Mulberry Tree.
"Parks Canada is responsible for protecting the ecological integrity of our national parks," read a release from Parks Canada. "Throughout Canada, protected areas like Point Pelee National Park have an important role to play in helping protect and restore healthy, resilient ecosystems and contributing to the recovery of species at risk."
The park will be open from 7 a.m. to sunset daily. Visitors are asked to follow COVID-19 protocols including maintaining social distance from others in the park.
