PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsadio) – Philadelphia will close sections of the city's largest parks at night starting Tuesday to allow sharpshooters hired by the federal government to thin out the deer population.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has been bringing in hunters for nighttime deer hunts since 1999.
Daily curfews will go into effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for sections of Fairmount Park, Cobb’s Creek Park, Pennypack Park and FDR Park until the end of March, according to Alain Joinville, a spokesman for the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation.
“During the curfew, all trails, parking lots and other areas of the parks will be closed to all pedestrians, including bicycle, equestrian and vehicular traffic,” Joinville said.
He said the hunt has a double purpose.
“The deer management program helps to reverse the impact of deer overpopulation on the vegetation in the park system and helps to reduce the number of deer-vehicle collisions on Philadelphia roadways,” Joinville said.
The venison, or deer meat, will be used to fight food insecurity in the city.
“All the deer that are removed from the park will be donated to local nonprofits and food banks,” Joinville said.
Based on hunts in recent years, he said he expects more than 300 deer to be taken this season.