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Proposed Deer Population Management Initiative for Sligo Creek Golf Course, Silver Spring, MD

Project Description
Public Input
Media Center
Project Contact

The Department of Parks Approved the Deer Management initiative for Sligo Creek Stream Valley Park. The program is slated to begin in January 2012. MNCPPC, Department of Parks, Montgomery County would like to thank everyone who submitted their input.  A collection of these comments is available below .

Project Description

The Sligo Golf Course was recommended for implementation of deer population management programming beginning January 2012. This site has been selected because deer populations have reached levels in which deer related impacts, such as automobile accidents, damage to agricultural crops and private landscapes, damage to natural communities, and potential of communicable diseases, are in need of mitigation.

Proposed deer management area mapMNCPPC, Department of Parks, Montgomery County has conducted deer density estimates in Sligo Creek Stream Valley Park, Units 3-5 (Rt. 29 Columbia Pike north to Arcola Avenue) , annually, beginning in 2007. It is currently estimated that 145-181 individual deer utilize these parklands; the deer density of Sligo Golf Course, and adjacent parklands is estimated at 43-54 individual deer during summer 2010. A deer density of 4 times higher, minimum, than recommended for this location.

The Department of Parks has received requests for deer population reduction efforts on these parklands from citizens of the affected area and from Friends of Sligo Creek (FOSC), a watershed advocacy group which facilitates environmental stewardship efforts within the Sligo Creek Stream Valley Park and surrounding communities.

Located in southeastern Montgomery County, Sligo Golf Course (Silver Spring) is recreational green space open to pay for use members of the public, and surrounded by residential development and parkland with a highly utilized hiker-biker trail. The Department of Parks has received a request to implement deer population management from citizens of the affected area and from the Friends of Sligo Creek.

The use of Park Police-based sharpshooting program in this park was recommended. The sharp-shooting program utilizes highly trained and certified Law Enforcement Officers to remove deer at night, when the park is closed to the public, during the months January through March, annually as required. A more detailed description of the Department of Parks' deer management goals and programming, including the Park Police-based sharpshooting program is available here.

Public Input

The time period for public input on this initiative was closed as of 3pm, 11/10/11. MNCPPC, Department of Parks, Montgomery County would like to thank everyone who submitted their input.  A decision regarding the proposal will be made by the Department’s Administration and staff following review of public comment and associated data.  All public comments received which included the basic requirements (name, email and home address), were collected and compiled into an Adobe PDF and updated regularly.Personal information was not included with the comments

Media Center

PARKS MEDIA CENTER - As they become available, press releases, news articles and items of interest will be listed here.

Project Contact

Bill Hamilton, Principal Natural Resource Specialist
MCP-deermanagement@montgomeryparks.org

back to top - Last update: December 6, 2011