SILVER SPRING, MD—For the fourth year in a row Montgomery County has seen a measurable decline in the number of deer-vehicle collisions on county roads, according to a new report released today by the Montgomery County Deer Management Work Group.
“All things considered, deer-vehicle collisions are arguably far below where they would have been without the county’s management efforts,” said Montgomery County Department of Parks Natural Resources Manager and Chair of the Montgomery County Deer Management Work Group Rob Gibbs.
According to Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) data, included in this latest report, there was 2,127 deer-vehicle collisions in the county in 2002—in 2003, MCPD reports 2,047; in 2004, 1,997; and in 2005, 1,969. The latest police department data indicates deer-vehicle collisions in the county were slightly lower in 2006, down to 1,951. MCPD keeps the most comprehensive and systematically collected data set on the number of deer-vehicle collisions in the county.
MCPD reports indicate that around parks, where deer population management strategies are employed, accidents with deer and vehicles have declined. Other police department data shows that in other areas, more urban and suburban for instance, there has been an increase in recent years.
The county established a deer management program in 1995, which included the formation of an interagency Deer Management Work Group. The program’s goal is to reduce deer-human conflicts in the county by: reducing the number of deer-vehicle collisions; reducing damage by deer to agricultural crops and home landscapes; reducing damage by deer on natural communities to preserve native plant and animal diversity; and providing county residents with information. The county’s Deer Management Work Group includes representatives from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Montgomery County Department of Parks, Montgomery County Cooperative Extension, Montgomery County Police Department, US Geological Survey (USGS), National Park Service and Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission.
Annually, this work group produces a report on the status of the county’s deer management program, in which it includes recommendations for managing deer in the upcoming year. The group’s latest report, released today, includes both non-lethal and lethal strategies for controlling deer populations on the county’s public lands for fiscal year 2008—July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008.
“In the county parks system, we have active deer population management operations at 18 parks, which includes managed deer hunting and police-based sharpshooting,” added Gibbs. “This year, we are recommending one new additional operation at Rock Creek Stream Valley Unit #7, in Rockville between Route 28 and Viers Mill Road.”
As outlined in the new report, other recommendations for fiscal year 2008 include: continued public outreach and education; improved road fencing, signage and design to reduce deer-vehicle collisions; continued monitoring of the use of contraception to regulate deer populations; and encouraging effective deer population management on private properties.
For a copy of this year’s Montgomery County Deer Management Work Group’s annual report and additional information, see www.mc-mncppc.org/environment/deer, email MCP-deermanagement@mncppc-mc.org or call (301) 949-2909.
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Contact:
Kelli Holsendolph
Media Relations Manager
Montgomery County Department of Parks
(301) 650-2866