Plans are in motion to hunt deer in Rock Creek
Park in order to thin the overpopulated herd. But
opponents to the hunt have filed a federal
lawsuit. See what each side has to say through
photos.
At one point, deer were hunted to near extinction
in Rock Creek Park and had to be reintroduced to
the during the 1930s through 1950s. Populations
grew because there are no longer natural
predators in the area. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
WTOP/Michelle Basch
Rob Gibbs is the Natural Resources Manager for
the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning
Commission (MNCPPC) Montgomery Parks. While he
says he understands deer in the wild are
beautiful, he stresses balance is needed.
(WTOP/Michelle Basch)
WTOP/Michelle Basch
Bushes in a neighborhood off 16th Street NW near
Rock Creek Park show evidence that deer have been
eating from their lower sections. (WTOP/Michelle
Basch)
Linda Crichlow White and her husband Eric stand
in front of a fence around their yard that they
made taller to try to keep out deer. They live
off 16th Street on a road that dead-ends at the
park. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
WTOP/Michelle Basch
Linda Crichlow White points to the netting and
hoops she and her husband have placed over
plants in their front yard to try to keep deer
from eating them. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
WTOP/Michelle Basch
A deer lies near 16th Street
NW by Rock Creek Park after being hit by a car.
(Courtesy of Linda Crichlow White)
Courtesy of Linda Crichlow White
Taken in 2005, this photo shows a deer eating
someone's garden near the Nicholson Street NW
neighborhood by Rock Creek Park. (Courtesy of
Linda
Crichlow White)
A federal lawsuit has been filed over a proposed
deer hunt in Rock Creek. Deer are known to
frequent the neighborhoods adjacent to the park.
This photo was taken in 2005. (Courtesy of Linda
Crichlow White)
Problems with deer on Linda Crichlow White's
property peaked around 2006 and 2007. This photo,
taken in 2005, shows deer grazing in a yard near
the Nicholson Street NW. (Courtesy of Linda
Crichlow White)
Deer can carry ticks and cause car accidents.
Linda Crichlow White says they "definitely eat our
vegetation." (Courtesy of Linda
Crichlow White)
Anne Barton stands in her yard near the spot
where a doe gave birth to a fawn in 2004. The two
deer stayed there for weeks. Her home is off
Military Road near Rock Creek Park, and she
opposes the plan to kill deer in the park.
(WTOP/Michelle Basch)
WTOP/Michelle Basch
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA In 2004, this doe gave birth to a fawn in the
backyard of Anne Barton. She and her husband
live off Military Road NW near Rock Creek Park.
Others in the neighborhood named the doe Daisy
and the fawn
Bambi. Barton is opposed to the plan to kill
deer in the park.
In a federal lawsuit, she states one of the
reasons is, she's
afraid the same
fawn she saw born in her yard - will die.
(Courtesy of Anne Barton)
Courtesy of Anne Barton
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA In 2004, this doe gave birth to a fawn in Anne
Barton backyard off Military
Road NW. Despite the fact the deer devoured her
plants, she'd welcome them back any time.
(Courtesy of
Anne
Barton)
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA The deer hunt that's on hold would be the first
since Rock Creek Park was founded in 1890. Anne
Barton is a neighbor who opposes the hunt. In
2004, this doe gave birth to a fawn in her
backyard off Military Road NW. (Courtesy of Anne
Barton)
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA National Park Service documents say action needs
to be taken because deer are doing major damage to
native plants and taking away habitat for other
animals in Rock Creek Park. Neighbors named this
doe Daisy and her fawn Bambi in 2004. (Courtesy of
Anne Barton)
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA At one time deer were rare in Rock Creek Park. In
2004, this fawn was born in Anne Barton's
backyard. The controversy of the National Park
Service's proposed deer hunt is pitting neighbor
against neighbor. (Courtesy of Anne Barton)
Courtesy of Anne Barton
Anne Barton recently created paintings from some
of the photos she took of the deer that visited
her backyard in 2004. Here's one of several she
has framed and hung in her home. (WTOP/Michelle
Basch)
Plans are in motion to hunt deer in Rock Creek Park in order to thin the overpopulated herd. But opponents to the hunt have filed a federal lawsuit. See what each side has to say through photos.