U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) professionals, including a marksmen, will begin culling some of Eden Prairie’s deer population. The culling occurs at selected, remote conservation area and park sites from dusk into evening from December through March.
The annual EP deer management goal, according to a November 23, 2020 City news release is to maintain the city’s white tail deer population at 20 to 25 deer per square mile of “suitable habitat,” as recommended by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
“We are working to maintain the deer population in balance with the available natural habitat,” explains Eden Prairie Parks and Natural Resources Manager Matt Bourne in the news release.
The EP annual deer population also impacts suburban gardening efforts and landscape plants.
The release notes that prior to the launch of the program in the 1990s, a citizen task force studying deer over-population found that Eden Prairie was tabulating nearly 280 deer-vehicle collisions a year. That annual EP deer collision number has dipped below 30 according to the “Deer Management” City of EP page.
Questions about EP’s Deer Management Program can be called into Matt Bourne at 952-949-8535. Questions about public safety during the program should called into the EP Police at 952-949-6200.