Deer Management

Discover the reasons for deer management, learn about the components of the deer management program, and find resources to help alleviate deer conflicts on your property.

Background

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are a beautiful and valuable wildlife species in Prince George's County. Though once rare in Maryland, the current deer population has become over-abundant. Too many deer will result in ecological problems and increase deer-human conflicts.

Population Growth

The factors that have contributed to the population growth of deer in our region include:

Abundant food sources found in agriculture and residential landscaping
Ideal deer habitat found in suburban areas
Removal of large predators
Reduced hunting opportunities

The Need for Deer Management

A reduction in population using deer management is needed to address the issues caused by too many deer. Over-abundant deer populations can result in:

Forest degradation due to heavy browsing of tree seedlings
Reduced biodiversity
Increase in invasive plant species
Increased risk of deer-vehicle collisions
Potential increased risk of Lyme Disease and other communicable diseases
Property damage to landscaping, crops, and vehicles
Poor herd health

Deer Management Programs

The Department is managing select parks to lower the deer population at those sites through public hunting and sharpshooting. Though many parks are experiencing the negative effects of an over-abundant deer population, the Department's management program is not always a feasible option. Safety is the program's top priority.

Deer Management Factors

When determining if deer management is feasible at a park, the Department considers the following:

Access throughout the park
Deer population size
Deer-vehicle collision data
Ecological damage
Number of surrounding homes and businesses
Public comments
Size of the park

Deer Population Surveys

The deer management program conducts population surveys to estimate the deer population size at select park sites. The recommended deer density is 20 deer per square mile. Park properties that are estimated to have significantly higher deer densities than what is recommended are considered for deer management.

Deer-Vehicle Collisions

In partnership with Prince George's County Animal Control, deer-vehicle collision data has been gathered to show where roadkill deer carcasses are removed off of county roads. This deer vehicle collision map (PDF) shows those locations. Please note this data does not include unreported carcasses or deer that survive a vehicle collision. The true number of deer-vehicle collisions is believed to be much higher.

Driving Tips

Here are some driving tips to help prevent striking a deer with your vehicle:

Drive the speed limit. Slower driving speeds give you and the deer more time to react.
Deer are more active from dusk to dawn. Be cautious when driving during these times.
The fall breeding season (October - December) has the highest occurrence of deer-vehicle collisions because of increased deer activity.
Look for the eye shine of deer when driving at night.
Pay attention to stretches of roads with deer crossing signs.
Deer tend to travel in groups. If one deer is observed crossing the road, drive slowly and look for more deer.