Baltimore Launches Deer Management Program to Address Overpopulation

City aims to reduce deer density in parks and protect urban forests

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Baltimore City is launching a new Deer Management Program to address a growing deer population that is damaging trees and vegetation in its parks. The program will utilize trained wildlife professionals to cull deer, with the meat being donated to the Maryland Food Bank.

Why it matters

Deer overpopulation can have a significant negative impact on urban forests, preventing young trees from growing and allowing invasive plants to spread. The city's parks department hopes this program will help restore balance to the local ecosystem.

The details

The city's parks department reports deer densities in some areas are 20 times higher than the recommended 20 deer per square mile. The deer are stripping bark from trees, killing them, and contributing to the spread of invasive plants. The initial phase of the Deer Management Program will focus on Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park, Herring Run Park, and Druid Hill Park, using sharpshooters from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to cull the deer population.

  • The Deer Management Program will launch in March 2026.
  • Parks will be temporarily closed during the nighttime sharpshooting operations.

The players

Shane Boehne

A wildlife conservation analyst with the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks.

Maryland Food Bank

The organization that will receive the donated deer meat from the culling program.

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What’s next

As the program progresses, the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks may consider expanding the deer management efforts to additional parks based on data and identified needs.

The takeaway

Addressing an overabundant deer population in urban areas requires a balanced approach that considers ecological concerns, public safety, and community values. Baltimore's new Deer Management Program aims to restore the health of its parks' forests by culling the deer population and donating the meat to those in need.