Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site of Canada
The Annual White-tailed Deer Census
The annual white-tailed deer census began in 1973. Park Wardens conduct this count each October by making roadside observations along the main park highway early each morning. They conduct the count in one direction only, eliminating the possibility of counting the same deer twice.
A doe standing among roadside bushes© Parks CanadaResults in the graph record the maximum number of deer reported on any one day during the observation period.
White-tailed deer populations reached extremely high numbers in the mid 1980's throughout Nova Scotia as a result of many mild winters. Cold winters commenced a province-wide decline that became evident in Kejimkujik by 1987.
An in-park study, from 1992 to 1994, determined the effect of the coyote on deer populations. The park deer population has started to rebound but coyote predation remains a limiting factor to rapid increase.
By 1998 and 1999, deer were again being observed in higher numbers and fawns seemed more plentiful every year.
A graph showing the annual roadside deer count between 1973 and 2000 . For an accessible text-based description of this graph click here .
© Parks Canada
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