In an effort to mitigate the increasing impact of a growing white-tailed deer population on the community, Rockville will spend the next year and a half developing a deer-culling pilot program for fall 2020.
The Mayor and Council directed staff to develop the pilot program at their Jan. 7 meeting. Public safety issues that stem from the increasing deer population include a growth in the number of vehicle accidents, property damage and potential for Lyme disease.
A plan for the pilot will be drafted during spring and summer 2019, followed by public review and input in the fall. The plan would outline methods, locations, times, safety zones, handling and transport, record keeping, and cost estimates, among other details. The plan would complement ongoing measures to manage deer, such as data collection, education, use of repellents and fencing.
From 2008-2017, according to the Rockville City Police Department, 1,400 deer-vehicle collisions were reported, most often during the height of the deer breeding season in October and November. A survey of six Rockville parks showed an average of 130-160 deer per square mile.
For more information on Rockville’s urban wildlife management program, visit www.rockvillemd.gov/urbanwildlife.