Ed. Note: NPS donates hundreds of pounds of venison to DC Central Kitchen.
From the National Park Service:
“The National Park Service must balance the needs of all animals and plants in Rock Creek Park. Research has shown that vegetation damage occurs when deer populations exceed 20 per square mile. Reducing the deer population is needed to allow regeneration in a healthy, diverse forest that supports native vegetation and wildlife, including deer. The National Park Service uses an adaptive management approach that is flexible based on how deer and vegetation populations respond. Since 2013, when NPS began reducing the deer population in Rock Creek Park, the park’s tree seedling density has more than doubled.
Without continued management, deer populations would quickly rebound and eat nearly all tree seedlings and other plants before they could grow.
Scientists continue to monitor the response of park vegetation to fewer deer–this helps inform future deer management practices.
Since the fall of 2020, the NPS has begun work to reduce deer populations in smaller areas under Rock Creek Park’s management, in addition to Rock Creek Park itself. These areas include: Barnard Hill; Battery Kemble; Beach Parkway; Dumbarton Oaks Park; Fort Bayard; Fort Bunker Hill; Fort Reno; Fort Slocum; Fort Stevens; Fort Totten; Little Forest; Glover-Archbold Park; Klingle Valley; Montrose Park; National Zoological Park Entrance at Harvard St NW; Normanstone Parkway; North Portal Parkway; Park – Garfield St, between Fulton St & Foxhall Rd NW (parkland adjacent to Foxhall Road between Fulton St NW & Edmunds St NW); Park – North side of National Zoological Park & Adams Mill Rd NW (north side of Zoo, west of Porter St, NW); Pinehurst Parkway; Piney Branch Portal; Potomac Palisades Parkway from Key Bridge to Chain Bridge, NW; Reservation 630; Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway; Rock Creek Park; Soapstone Valley Park; Whitehaven Parkway; and Woodley Park.
As a reminder, Rock Creek Park is closed daily from sunset to sunrise all year round This includes all trails and most park facilities.
During Deer Management
Extensive safety measures will be in place to protect park visitors, neighbors, and staff during operations. We ensure safety by:
using biologists who are highly trained firearms experts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture
working at night when parks are closed
working away from populated areas and with safety buffers of at least 300 feet from a park boundary
temporarily closing roads
enforcing nighttime trails closures
working with US Park Police and MPD
coordinating with other law enforcement agencies
posting signs on closed trails/roads and bulletin boards
stationing personnel at closures
using infrared heat scanners and night vision goggles to identify deer
using elevated positions to provide downward angled shots
always shooting toward the interior of the park
using special non-lead ammunition with a shorter travel distance
using noise suppression on weapons
During deer management operations, temporary night-time road closures will be in effect to provide for visitor and employee safety during reduction activities. Commuters, including cyclists, are advised to plan alternate routes.”