Pittsburgh Likely To Expand Deer Culling Efforts In City Parks

PITTSBURGH, PA — City officials are looking to expand a deer hunting program to include three additional parks after a pilot program last year in Frick and Riverview parks proved successful.

City council on Tuesday is expected to approve a $98,000 contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help oversee this year’s deer management program. Schenley, Highland and Emerald View parks would be part of this year’s deer culling effort.

The city in 2023 launched an archery pilot program to reduce an overabundance of deer living in city parks. Officials asserted that there is an insufficient food supply for the existing number of deer and that the animals have limited vegetation’s ability to root and regenerate in city parks.

Officials also contend that with no natural predators, the city has seen an increase in deer-vehicle collisions and unnatural deer aggression toward pets and people.

According to a city report on the pilot program, which ran from September through January, 108 deer were harvested by 30 archers in Riverview and Frick parks. Fifty-nine deer were donated to local food banks and produced nearly 10,000 meals.