Six national parks in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia have concluded annual operations to reduce overabundant white-tailed deer. The parks, ranging from Civil War battlefields to urban sites, donated more than 19,000 pounds of venison, equalling over 75,000 meals to local nonprofits. These nonprofits serve meals locally and across the region to families in need.

Four national parks in Maryland and the District of Columbia recently concluded annual operations to reduce overabundant white-tailed deer. Two Civil War battlefields, a 5,810-acre hardwood mountain forest, and a national park in the heart of the nation’s capital donated more than 14,000 pounds of venison to local non-profits that serve those in need.

Three Western Maryland national parks this month concluded operations to reduce overabundant white-tailed deer that threaten the historic scenery of two Civil War battlefields and a 5,810-acre hardwood mountain forest. This season, more than eight tons of venison were donated to the local Maryland Food Bank, the Thurmont Food Bank, the Help Hotline and the Lunch Place soup kitchen.

Three National Park System units in western Maryland are turning to culling operations to tamp down the white-tailed deer populations in their parks. The National Park Service plans to donate all suitable meat from reduction activities to local food banks.