News Release

National Parks in Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. provide more than 55,000 meals of donated venison to neighbors

Date: June 5, 2024
Contact: Megan Nortrup

WASHINGTON— Eight national parks in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia have concluded this year’s annual operations to reduce overabundant white-tailed deer. These parks donated more than 13,000 pounds of venison to local nonprofit organizations that will serve approximately 55,000 meals to families in need.  

While the eight national parks managing deer preserve different aspects of America’s history and natural treasures, all have suffered from the effects of high deer populations. Overabundant deer populations damage plants and eat nearly all tree seedlings preventing forest regeneration. Deer also damage agricultural crops, which are a key component of the historic setting at many Civil War battlefields. These national parks manage deer populations to support long-term protection and restoration of native plants and to promote healthy and diverse ecosystems for all wildlife.   

Reducing overabundant deer populations has produced positive results at area national parks. Rock Creek Park which began deer management in 2013, has seen tree seedling numbers double and Catoctin Mountain Park which has managed deer since 2010 has seen a 21-fold increase in tree seedling numbers. Long-term commitment to deer management is needed to translate that early success into increases in saplings, and ultimately mature trees of canopy species.  

Before any donation, all parks professionally process deer and participate in a chronic wasting disease (CWD) monitoring program for wildlife health. This year three parks received CWD-positive detections. Any venison from deer that tested positive for CWD was destroyed.  

Each park follows a deer management plan, developed with public input, according to the National Environmental Policy Act.     

The following nonprofits received venison donations this year:  
 

National Park	Venison donated	Local nonprofit
Antietam National Battlefield	930 lbs	Maryland Food Bank
Catoctin Mountain Park	2,693 lbs	HELP Hotline, Thurmont Food Bank
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park	510 lbs	Maryland Food Bank
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park	720 lbs	Maryland Food Bank
Manassas National Battlefield Park	1,860 lbs	Hunters for the Hungry
Monocacy National Battlefield	1,050 lbs	Maryland Food Bank
National Capital Parks - East	3,150 lbs	DC Central Kitchen, Maryland Food Bank
Rock Creek Park	3,000 lbs	DC Central Kitchen
Total	13,913 lbs