NPS file
Starting Tuesday, February 18, Morristown National Historical Park will begin managing the deer population in the Jockey Hollow and New Jersey Brigade areas. This marks the first year of an ongoing plan to control white-tailed deer as part of the Vegetation and White-tailed Deer Management Plan, approved in July 2017. The goal is to address the over-browsing of native vegetation, which is essential for restoring and preserving the park’s natural resources while ensuring a balanced deer population.
The National Park Service (NPS) is following best practices used in other national parks and aligning with long-standing efforts by the Morris County Park Commission and New Jersey Fish & Wildlife’s Community-Based Deer Management program. These initiatives have helped forests recover and thrive.
Since hunting is not allowed in the park, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services will carry out the removal under an agreement with the NPS. Trained sharpshooters will handle the operation, and all deer will be tested for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) before the venison is donated to the Norwescap food bank.
Strict safety measures will be in place to protect park resources and surrounding communities. The work will primarily take place overnight while the park is closed to visitors. Residents and visitors should check the Morristown National Historical Park website (www.nps.gov/morr) for updates and respect posted closures. The USDA expects this year’s operation to wrap up by the end of March.
Support Essential Coverage of Essential Places
