History of White-tailed Deer in Rock Creek ParkWhite-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are common throughout North and Central America. Without natural predators and with favorable habitat, deer have flourished in Rock Creek Park. Before 1960, there were no recorded sightings of white-tailed deer in the park. By the early 1990s, sightings were so frequent that the park stopped recording them. In 2003, deer numbers peaked at nearly 100 per square mile. Deer ManagementThe National Park Service must balance the needs of all animals and plants in Rock Creek Park. Research has shown that vegetation damage occurs when deer populations exceed 20 per square mile. Reducing the deer population is needed to allow regeneration in a healthy, diverse forest that supports native vegetation and wildlife, including deer. The National Park Service uses an adaptive management approach that is flexible based on how deer and vegetation populations respond. Since 2013, when NPS began reducing the deer population in Rock Creek Park, the park's tree seedling density has more than doubled. During Deer ManagementExtensive safety measures will be in place to protect park visitors, neighbors, and staff during operations. We ensure safety by:
During deer management operations, temporary night-time road closures will be in effect to provide for visitor and employee safety during reduction activities. Commuters, including cyclists, are advised to plan alternate routes. More information:News ReleasesNational Parks in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and D.C. provide more than 48,000 meals of donated venison to neighbors (April 2023)Reducing deer numbers and removing invasive plants are key to long-term forest health (April 2023) National Park Service announces 2022-2023 deer management operations for Rock Creek Park (November 2022) Rock Creek Park announces 2021-2022 deer management operations (November 2021) National Parks in Maryland, Virginia and D.C. provide more than 44,000 meals of donated venison to neighbors (May 2021) Rock Creek Park announces 2020-2021 deer management operations (November 2020) National Park Service will reduce deer populations in Rock Creek Park and other national parkland in DC (August 2020) Rock Creek Park announces 2019-2020 dates for annual deer management operations (November 2019) National Parks in Maryland, Virginia and DC provide more than 75,000 meals to neighbors with donated venison (April 2019) Rock Creek Park announces 2018-2019 dates for annual deer management operations (November 2018) National Parks in Maryland and DC Provide More Than 50,000 Meals to Neighbors with Donated Venison (April 2018) Rock Creek Park Announces Dates for Annual Deer Management Operations (November 2017) National Park Service donates 1,300 pounds of venison to local nonprofit (December 2016) Rock Creek Park announces deer management window of action (November 2016) National Park Service donates 700 pounds of venison to DC Central Kitchen (December 2015) Rock Creek Park Completes Deer Management Operations for the Year (December 2015) Rock Creek Park Announces Upcoming Deer Management Window of Action (December 2014) Frequently Asked QuestionsTo carry out the Rock Creek Park White-tailed Deer Management Plan, temporary night-time road closures will be in effect to provide for visitor and employee safety during reduction activities. Commuters, including cyclists, are advised to plan alternate routes.This year’s operations window runs from November 2, 2023, and March 31, 2024.
The following roads will remain open at all times:
Bingham Drive NW, which is closed to vehicle traffic for a sewer rehabilitation project, will remain closed. The NPS may temporarily close the following roads from 5 p.m. to 4 a.m. to conduct deer management operations:
Temporary road closures from 6:45 p.m. to 4 a.m. may include:
The following roads are currently closed to motor vehicles for reasons unrelated to deer management operations. These areas may also close to pedestrians, bicyclists and non-motorized recreation from 6:45 p.m. to 4 a.m.:
An overabundant white-tailed deer population is damaging the forest in Rock Creek Park. To address this situation, the National Park Service (NPS) has developed a deer management strategy that supports long-term protection, preservation, and restoration of native vegetation and cultural landscapes.
When proposing a management action of this scope, the National Park Service must follow the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). This law requires all federal agencies to: (1) prepare in-depth studies of the impacts of, and alternatives to, a proposed major federal action; (2) use the information developed from these studies to decide whether to proceed with the action; and (3) diligently attempt to involve the interested and affected public before any decision affecting the environment is made. Deer eat a wide variety of items, including tree and shrub seedlings. In a self-sustaining forest of this age (about 125 years), there would be a wide range of native trees in all stages of life, from seedling to sapling to mature. There also would be an understory layer of herbaceous (non-woody) plants, including a variety of wildflowers, and native shrubs. At Rock Creek Park, this vital mix is missing. The population of deer is now so great that it has compromised the ability of native forests to regenerate.
In addition, over the past 20 years, the increased deer population has caused detrimental changes in the species composition, structure, abundance, and distribution of native plant communities and their associated wildlife. Deer now are so dominant in the environment that they have decreased the habitat for other species. Yes. The National Park Service fully evaluated the advantages, disadvantages, effectiveness, and costs of using reproductive control as part of two deer management alternatives: Alternative B (Combined Non-lethal Actions) and Alternative D (Combined Lethal and Nonlethal Actions). Alternative D is the preferred alternative.
Under Alternative D, if a chemical reproductive control method is available that meets the criteria set forth in the FEIS, reproductive control would be implemented when the target deer population level has been achieved. For a reproductive control to meet FEIS criteria it must: * Be federally approved for application to free ranging populations * Provide multi-year efficacy (3-5yrs.) * Be administered by remote injection * Would leave no residue in meat * Leads to acceptable reductions and does not cause changes in deer behavior If an acceptable reproductive control method is not available or is ineffective, the park would continue lethal control methods to maintain the deer population at the level that permits forest regeneration. Appendix C of the FEIS provides a comprehensive scientific overview of the status of reproductive control. This appendix has been reviewed by wildlife reproductive science experts. National Park Service staff revised and updated information on reproductive control in the FEIS based on their comments. Public hunting is not authorized in the 1890 legislation that established the park nor by any subsequent law, policies, and regulations.
Research has shown that vegetation damage occurs when deer populations exceed 20 per square mile. Park service staff will continue to monitor and assess the park’s vegetation as deer management progresses. The adaptive management approach laid out in the park deer management plan provides flexibility to adjust to changing conditions. Until sustainable forest regeneration is occurring within the park, we will continue to manage deer populations.
The National Park Service plans to conduct deer management actions in the main section of Rock Creek Park from the National Zoo north to the District of Columbia/Maryland boundary between Oregon Avenue, NW and 16th Street, NW to maintain target population levels in the main section of Rock Creek Park. The National Park Service also may extend deer management action to additional areas managed by Rock Creek Park — such as Reservation 630, Soapstone Valley Park, Pinehurst Parkway, and other tributary parks, as well as, Glover Archbold Park, Battery Kemble Park and Fort Totten Park — to reduce deer populations. A full list of areas appears above.
The National Park Service’s goal is to coordinate our efforts with other jurisdictions and agencies so they will be as effective as possible. Deer overpopulation is an issue shared by communities throughout the metropolitan area. A regional response is essential to the success of this plan. This response is already occurring in Montgomery County, Maryland, where local park authorities are conducting deer management sharpshooting in the areas north of Rock Creek Park’s District of Columbia/Maryland boundary.
Yes. The National Park Service has worked with District of Columbia Department of Health, the Department of Energy and Environment, and the Maryland National Capital Parks and Planning Commission to develop this management plan. The park will continue to coordinate with these agencies as needed in the future.
The park participates in a chronic wasting disease (CWD) monitoring program. To date all results have been negative. This provides a high level of confidence that CWD does not currently exist in the deer populations residing inside the park.
The meat will be donated to local food banks and other organizations, consistent with National Park Service public health guidelines.
In 2007, the National Park Service completed work on a general management plan (GMP) for Rock Creek Park. During the planning process for the GMP, the public made clear that they value preservation of the park’s natural resources as highly as its cultural resources.
As the area around Rock Creek Park becomes more developed, the park is increasingly important as a refuge for plants and wildlife. It’s critical – as well as required by National Park Service management policies – that the natural resources which sustain the park’s wildlife be protected. In addition, although the park is indeed part of an urban environment, natural processes still occur in the park. Tree regeneration is one of these natural processes and is necessary to sustain the forest into the future. Data from vegetation monitoring plots in the park clearly demonstrates that high deer population density is limiting the growth and maturation of the park’s forests. This conclusion has been mirrored in extensive research that has been conducted on the effects of overabundant deer populations in other areas of the country. Young trees and shrubs in Rock Creek Park not protected by fencing can grow to only a few inches tall before being eaten by deer and other herbivores. Restoration of the park’s forest will take place when the deer browsing pressure is reduced to the point at which forests can regenerate.
Extensive safety measures will be in place to protect park visitors, neighbors, and staff during operations. We ensure safety by:
During deer management operations, temporary night-time road closures will be in effect to provide for visitor and employee safety during reduction activities. Commuters, including cyclists, are advised to plan alternate routes. The National Park Service’s top priority is safety. To make this action as safe as possible for park visitors, neighbors, staff, and motorists, the National Park Service will share specific information on these actions with local law enforcement and other state and local officials to ensure coordination. The details of implementation -- including what, when, and where actions on the ground will take place -- will not be provided to the public. National Park Service staff will work closely with local and state officials to implement a comprehensive communications strategy that ensures public safety.
The management plan is designed to bring the deer population to a level that allows the park’s forests to regenerate. White-tailed deer are part of the ecosystem, and future generations of park visitors will continue to have the opportunity to see deer in the park.
Several other national parks are actively managing deer including: Gettysburg National Military Park (Pa.), Catoctin Mountain Park (Md.), Antietam National Battlefield (Md.), Monocacy National Battlefield (Md.), Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (DC, Md., W.Va.), Manassas National Battlefield Park (Va.), Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (W.Va., Md., Va.), Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (Ind.), Fire Island National Seashore (Ny.), and Valley Forge National Historical Park (Pa.).
Catoctin has actively worked to reduce deer populations since 2010 and has seen a 21x increase in tree seedling density. Rock Creek Park will post website alerts during the deer management months. You can be obtain information by contacting the park’s deer management information line at 202-895-6009.
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Last updated: March 5, 2024