Montgomery Parks, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission has announced the expansion of its 2013-14 deer management operations to include Cabin John Regional Park, one of 29 other parks in the Parks’ system selected for managed hunts during the fall 2013 – winter 2014 season.
The deer management operation at Cabin John will take place January 10 to February 28, from 6 p.m. through 6 a.m., when the park is closed to the public. Information about the hunts will be posted on signs throughout the park, on the Montgomery Parks’ website homepage and communicated via Park Police patrols. All deer harvested through the effort will be donated for consumption at local soup kitchens. The operation will recur annually as necessary.
The park located in Potomac has been selected to address damage caused by an increasing population of deer, including deer-related automobile accidents, damage to natural resources and increased potential of communicable diseases such as Lyme disease. Recent estimates indicate deer population in this park is nearly four times the recommended density for an area this size. The decision to add Cabin John to the deer management operations was made after review of resident complaints and input, and with strong support from the community.
