Forests heavily browsed by deer have prompted National Park Service officials to propose a plan for reducing deer herds at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park/NPS

The National Park Service is seeking comment on its plan to reduce overabundant deer populations that threaten the natural beauty and historic scenery at Harpers Ferry and Chesapeake & Ohio Canal national historical parks.

Overabundant white-tailed deer damage vegetation and eat nearly all the tree seedlings, which compromises the forests’ ability to sustain themselves. The high number of deer is also destroying smaller trees and shrubs that provide critical habitat for native birds and other wildlife.

The White-Tailed Deer Management Plan and Environmental Assessment evaluates a range of approaches to achieve and maintain sustainable numbers of deer in the two parks to protect historic landscapes, support healthy native vegetation and manage the spread of chronic wasting disease in deer.

The plan analyzes four possible alternatives for managing the parks’ deer populations. The NPS has identified “Alternative D: Combined Lethal and Nonlethal Deer Management” as the most appropriate method to manage the deer populations. Under this plan, sharpshooting, limited capture and euthanasia, and reproductive controls could be used where and when appropriate to manage the deer population.

There are four parks in the national capital region that already have approved and implemented white-tailed deer management plans: Antietam National Battlefield (Md.), Catoctin Mountain Park (Md.), Monocacy National Battlefield (Md.) and Rock Creek Park (D.C.).

How to Comment:

Members of the public are encouraged to provide comments online through the National Park Service Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) project website at this site (click on “C&O Canal NHP and Harpers Ferry NHP Deer Management Plan and EA”) no later than Tuesday, May 16.

Comments received during the public comment period will help the NPS evaluate issues and concerns to be further addressed in the environmental review process.

Written comments may be sent to:

C&O Canal NHP
Attn: White-tailed Deer Management Plan EA
1850 Dual Highway, Suite 100
Hagerstown, Maryland 21740-6620

Or

Harpers Ferry NHP
Attn: White-tailed Deer Management Plan EA
P.O. Box 65
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425-0065