Sitka Black-Tailed Deer | Haida Gwaii Wildlife Guide

There are no native deer species in Haida Gwaii, although there was previously an endemic species of Dawson’s caribou, the last of which was killed in 1908. Sitka black-tailed deer were introduced to Graham Island as a food source in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and they have wreaked havoc on the ecosystem ever since. They quickly reached their carrying capacity on Graham Island, but deer are good swimmers and distances between islands in Haida Gwaii are often minimal.

Their population now thrives throughout the archipelago, and they have devastated the forest understory that once provided food and shelter to songbirds, insects and small mammals. Their destruction of culturally important shrubs, plants and trees that provide berries and art materials to local Haida communities has also taken its toll.

Canadian parks authorities and the Haida Nation have spent years attempting to eliminate the black-tailed deer population through culling and other efforts, but the rugged terrain and large population make it a Sisyphean task. Invasive species are often the biggest threat to vulnerable native species, so these attempts must continue, however daunting they may be.

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