Norristown Farm Park To Cull Deer Population As Collisions Increase
NORRISTOWN, PA — The deer population of Norristown Farm Park has continued to grow beyond a sustainable level for both the ecosystem and the surrounding community, leading to a significant number of collisions with vehicles in the area. Montgomery County officials will conduct another cull to bring numbers back down to healthy levels, they announced Wednesday.
The cull will be held after hours throughout March and April, when the park is closed to the public. Montgomery County’s parks department will partner with the Pennsylvania Game Commission and “highly trained” U.S. Department of Agriculture personnel on the effort.
Culls have been held at the park annually since 2005.
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“Deer culls serve to reduce deer populations with the goal of balancing the size of the herd with the available resources,” Montgomery County officials shared in a statement. “Culls reduce crop damage, lessen deer collisions with cars, and decrease damage to the park’s vegetation and residential landscapes.”
Culls also reduce the spread of Lyme disease and chronic wasting disease and improve the health of the rest of the herd, ecologists note.
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Recent surveys indicate that 122 deer live on the 690 acre, one square mile property as of early March. The wildlife biologist-recommended deer population for that space is about 20 to 30 deer.
The 2023 cull produced 1700 pounds of venison, which was donated to local food banks.
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