Norristown Farm Park to conduct deer cull

NORRISTOWN — Montgomery County Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites has announced that it will conduct a deer cull at the Norristown Farm Park. The cull will be held during the months of March and April in coordination with state and federal agencies.

The cull will take place after hours using highly trained USDA Wildlife Services personnel, according to the county. The entire operation will be closely monitored by officials from various agencies and will take place after hours when the park is closed to the public. The park will be patrolled continuously to ensure public safety. There will be no impact to park visitors, neighboring residents, or nearby properties.

Cull and hunting activities have occurred annually at the Norristown Farm Park since 2005 as part of the park’s evolving wildlife management program. A cull involving the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 2023 produced 1,700 pounds of venison which was donated to local food banks. Hunters participating in the lottery drawn archery hunt this past October removed nine deer.

Surveys conducted this year by USDA Wildlife Services conclude that there are an estimated 122 deer on the property, down from 133 in 2023. Biologists nationwide recommend 20-30 deer per square mile. Norristown Farm Park is 690 acres and the perimeter is one square mile. This past year the three local municipalities sharing boundaries with the Farm Park reported a combined 47 deer-vehicle collisions.

Deer culls serve to reduce deer populations with the goal of balancing the size of the herd with the available resources, according to a Montgomery County press release. Culls reduce crop damage, lessen deer collisions with cars, and decrease damage to the park’s vegetation and residential landscapes. Closely managing the deer population assists in reducing the spread of wildlife borne illnesses such as Lyme disease, epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) and chronic wasting disease (CWD), while improving the health and the vigor of the remaining herd.

All of the deer harvested as part of this year’s cull will be processed and the venison will once again be donated to area food banks to help fight hunger.

Residents with questions should contact the Norristown Farm Park office at (610) 270-0215.