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Thank you to the over 600 community members who shared feedback online and 158 people who participated in the open house as part of the recent engagement for the Arlington County Deer Management Project. This project aims to address the challenges of deer overpopulation in our County-owned natural land parks with sustainable strategies to maintain ecological balance. Your feedback has been integral in shaping this project. Below is the summary of what we heard along with the final recommendation.
Engagement Summary:
From June 18 to July 19, 2024, we invited feedback on the County’s draft deer management recommendation. The proposed hybrid strategy centered around professional sharpshooting but also included other approaches such as fencing and repellents. Feedback from over 600 participants showed 85% support for a deer management program in Arlington County and 80% support for a professional sharpshooting program. The most common themes heard from the community’s open-ended responses were strong support for the project, the request that deer meat is donated to local food banks once tested for disease, and the desire for safe and swift implementation of a deer management program. All feedback can be explored through our engagement summary and the raw data.
Deer Management Program Implementation:
After careful consideration of multiple factors, including community feedback, regional benchmark data, comprehensive research, and consultant recommendations, the County has decided to implement a Deer Management Program. The program will use professional sharpshooting as the primary method of population control, which is considered a valid form of euthanasia by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
The final recommendations include:
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Professional Sharpshooting: Primary method to immediately reduce deer populations in County-owned natural land parks. This method is safe, cost-effective and is supported by peer-reviewed scientific studies evidence as an effective method of population control. Changes to Arlington County Code are required in order to implement professional sharpshooting on County natural land parks. Harvested deer will be tested for disease and if appropriate, the venison will be donated to local food banks.
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Fencing/Repellents: Recommended for small areas to protect priority plant species.
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Continued Monitoring: Conduct periodic deer population surveys using drones and assess impact from deer feeding on plants annually (herbivory impact assessment) based on established methods.
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Review Deer Vehicle Collision Data and Intake Collection Methods: Review Arlington County Police Department, Animal Welfare League of Arlington, and VDOT tracking methods.
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Monitor Tick-Borne Disease: Incorporate CDC annual Lyme disease numbers into monitoring program. Explore options for monitoring other relevant diseases such as alpha-gal.
So, What Happens Next?
The next steps in the process are as follows:
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Fall 2024: Staff will propose amendments to the County Code to permit professional sharpshooting in Arlington County parks.
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Winter 2025: Staff will develop a deer management operations plan that prepares for the program's implementation.
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Winter 2026: Contracted professional sharpshooting will commence in parks.
The deer management program will prioritize public safety and robust public communication.
For more details, visit our Deer Management Project webpage where you can explore resources including our interactive storymap, project video, and sign up for email updates. This webpage will be regularly updated as the project moves forward and will be the best source of information to stay informed.
Public safety is Arlington’s top priority. Professional contracted sharpshooters would operate at night while parks are closed, shooting downward from tree stands at short range. They use sound suppressors to mitigate noise and use special non-lead-based ammunition that is designed to be humane for deer and safe to use in urban and suburban landscapes. Parks would be closed prior to and during sharpshooting operations and closely monitored by the Arlington Police Department and Park Rangers. Sharpshooting operations have been carried out nationwide for decades with zero reported injuries to bystanders.
Thank you for your continued engagement and support in this important project. Your input is crucial to the success of our efforts to maintain the ecological health of Arlington County.
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