Article content continued

Prior to the hunt beginning, a sweep was conducted of the islands to ensure no one was camping there.

“Although we have a lot of great local hunters, we wanted people who are eradication specialists,” Robyn Irvine, project manager for Parks Canada, said in an interview.

“The deaths of these animals were as humane and quick as possible.”New Zealand has a long history of dealing with the impact of introduced species, including deer and feral goats.

The SPCA confirmed it was impressed by the clean kills that minimized suffering to the deer.

“I was blown away at how professional it was,” said Sara Dubois, the SPCA’s chief scientific officer. “They would only take head shots — no body shots — and only if they could guarantee an instant kill.”

The program started by attracting the deer with a combination of dry corn, cedar boughs, and fresh apples at bait stations, where some could be quickly picked off, then moved into a more aggressive and wide-ranging seek-and-destroy mission throughout the islands.

Four Americans who specialize in wildlife behaviour also participated in the program as well as 32 residents of Haida Gwaii, both Haida and non-Haida, including four sharpshooters (one of whom joined the Kiwis for helicopter-based shooting) as well as logistical and technical support.

Two non-profit organizations, Coastal Conservation and Island Conservation, also assisted in the program.

Already some of the vegetation is starting to return. Western red cedar, a tree strongly tied to Haida culture and artwork, is also expected to recover and grow to monumental size. Over time, the islands will even sound different, as species return to native habitat.