UPDATE: Oregon Ridge Applauds Council Efforts to Manage Deer Populations

(UPDATE 4:35 P.M.)– Officials at Oregon Ridge Park, an area with a highly concentrated deer population, said thinning the herds will improve the ecosystem.

Courtney Peed, director of the Oregon Ridge Nature Center, said that a recent County Council decision to will help restore forests at the park.

“We have a population of deer that is way too much for the park, and it’s taking its toll,” Peed said. “They eat all the low-growing plants, shrubs, trees. It prevents new growth. If you don’t have regrowth you can’t grow the forest.”

The voracious appetites of deer affect other animals at the park.

“Most animals rely on low-growing plants for food and coverage from predators,” Peed said. “It’s a concern for the deer as well. As the food disappears, they aren’t getting the nutrients they need.”

But not everyone is thrilled with the council's decision.

Enid Feinberg, a Phoenix resident and wildlife advocate, has actively campaigned against deer hunting.

"I'm passionate because the deer suffer cruelty and it breaks my heart," Feinberg said. "When you see a deer crossing your lawn with an arrow sticking out—it's horrible."

Feinberg is the volunteer president of Wildlife Rescue, Inc. and a founding partner of Deer Solutions MD. She says that decisions about managing deer populations shouldn't be made by people who aren't well versed on the subject. 

"Who are these people to justify killing deer?" she said. "If you look at the Baltimore County Environmental Commission, almost none of them are environmentalists."

Feinberg said charges that deer damage wildlife and hurt other animals are not accurate.

"There are multiple studies that refute this overused excuse for killing the deer," Feinberg said. "They want to kill one animal to save another animal. Who are they to decide which animals life is more important. When a deer is shot, they feel the same pain as their dog or cat will feel."

The council passed legislation Monday allowing limited deer hunts at county parks.

The bill, sponsored by Councilman Todd Huff, enables professional sharpshooters to participate in managed overnight deer hunts at select county parks to be determined by the state. The public will receive two weeks’ notification before each hunt.

Feinberg and pro-hunting advocates were consulted by sponsors of the bill and had an input on the final language of the legislation that passed Monday.

“I’m excited that the council was able to come together and work out a plan that would appease everybody,” Huff said.

Feinberg said anti-hunting advocates were far from appeased.

"For (Huff) to say we're appeased is an insult," Feinberg said.

"No one won here," Feinberg said. "Not the hunters. The environmentalists didn't win - killing the deer won't solve the problem. The animal people didn't win because we dont want to see the deer killed. The deer didn't win and the people of Baltimore County didn't win."

In addition to the hunts, birth control, sterilization and other methods to control deer populations will be considered.

The bill further stipulates that meat from the hunted deer be processed in Baltimore County and donated to local food banks.

Huff plans to organize the initiative with the Department of Natural Resources over the summer and have a plan implemented by fall.

“I’m just glad we’ll be able to get better control of this situation,” he said.