Email The Arlington County Board and Tell Them You Oppose Killing Deer and Support Non-Lethal Deer Management in Arlington, Virginia
The white-tailed deer is the most common deer species in the United States. Tragically, the killing of white-tailed deer in urban American cities as a means of population control is widespread and widely accepted.
Communities must understand the nature of deer-human conflicts and use available means to establish peaceful coexistence with deer. The issue might not be "deer overpopulation." Humans must learn to live equally and peacefully with deer and all wildlife.
Lethal approaches to managing white-tailed deer populations in urban areas are outdated, ineffective, and inhumane. Deer respond to declines in their populations by reproducing more quickly, therefore, killing deer must be continued year after year. For example, both Fairfax County, Virginia and Howard County, Maryland have been killing deer yearly since 1998 - 27 years!
There are effective, science-based, and humane alternatives to culling deer. It is crucial to follow the science.
In 2017, The United States Environmental Protection Agency approved PZP (Porcine Zona Pellucida) for use as a contraceptive in wild horses and burros, and female white-tailed deer. Although PZP is federally registered, state approval is required to use it on deer. It is currently not approved in Virginia except for research purposes.
According to Virginia State Code § 29.1-508.1. PZP is legal with written permission for research purposes. Surgical sterilization has been used in Falls Church City, Virginia.
Culling white-tailed deer as a means of population control negatively impacts many American cities including our community of Arlington, Virginia.
On November 16, 2024, the Arlington, Virginia County Board ignored the expertise of The Animal Welfare League of Arlington (or AWLA, our local non-profit open-access shelter that provides Animal Control, humane education, and humane wildlife services) and over 60% of Arlington residents who advocated for more effective, non-lethal approaches to deer population management prioritizing safety, wildlife protection, and forest health.
The Animal Welfare League of Arlington is a member of A Humane World for Animals (formerly The Humane Society of the United States) because of their proven track record in addressing Arlington’s wildlife issues humanely. The AWLA has a detailed and truthful presentation about deer in Arlington on their website.
Neglecting the overall data, the Arlington, Virginia County Board voted unanimously to change county zoning and ordinances, approving the carrying and use of firearms on public property to allow the ineffective and inhumane sharpshooting of deer in 2025/26.
The Arlington County Government’s consulting contractor, White Buffalo Inc., suggested that surgical sterilization approach is a viable alternative because it is 100% effective for the lifetime of the deer.
Arlington is dense in population. Arlington citizens care about deer and have grave concerns about the dangers of shooting deer near our homes.
All the major animal welfare and animal rights organizations support non-lethal deer management plans.
Many communities across the United States implement successful, non-lethal deer management plans.
The most prominent and successful non-lethal deer management plan in the United States is The Clifton Deer Program in Ohio. Since 2015, they have protected the ecological health of their parks and communities through humane methods of deer population management.
In 2014, The National Institutes of Health embarked on a successful non-lethal deer management plan to neuter adult females on their Bethesda Campus. By 2017, their deer herds reached a healthy size.
Current and former Arlington, Virginia residents and anyone worldwide who cares about wildlife can email a short note to the Arlington, Virginia County Board.
Tell the Arlington County Board you support non-lethal deer management and oppose their unwise, ineffective, and inhumane decision to kill deer in Winter 2025/26.
Please be courteous. Emphasize that you care about white-tailed deer and advocate for more effective, non-lethal approaches to deer population management prioritizing safety, wildlife protection, and forest health. Remind them of the dangers of shooting deer near our homes. Click on the name to send email; please include your name and address.
Takis P. Karantonis, Chair: tkarantonis@arlingtonva.us
Matt de Ferranti, Vice-Chair: mdeferranti@arlingtonva.us
Maureen Coffey, Member: mcoffey@arlingtonva.us
Susan Cunningham, Member: scunningham@arlingtonva.us
JD Spain Sr., Member: jdspainsr@arlingtonva.us
Our Virginia State Senators and Delegates work hard to promote and pass pro-animal legislation and end cruelty to all sentient, intelligent animals in Virginia.
Write our elected state officials and express your disapproval of The Arlington County Board’s decision to sharpshoot deer and advocate for more effective, non-lethal approaches to deer population management prioritizing safety, wildlife protection, and forest health:
Write our Elected State Senators and Delegates. Express your disapproval of The Arlington County Board’s decision to sharpshoot deer and advocate for more effective, non-lethal approaches to deer population management prioritizing safety, wildlife protection, and forest health. Click on the name to send email; please include your name and address.
Senator Adam Ebbin: senatorebbin@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Barbara Favola: senatorfavola@senate.virginia.gov
Delegate Alfonso Lopez: delALopez@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Patrick Hope: delPHope@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Adele McClure: DelAMcClure@house.virginia.gov
Arlington, Virginia is an educated and compassionate community. We want the Arlington County Board to reflect our values, reverse their decision, and implement a non-lethal deer management program that will benefit deer, other wildlife, plant life, and the entire Arlington community.
We want the Arlington County Board to rescind their amendments to the County’s Firearms ordinance (Chapter 13) and Miscellaneous Offenses and Provisions of the Arlington County Code (Chapter 17), that permits the discharge of firearms for county-supervised contracted professional sharpshooting as a method of deer management.
Arlington, Virginia must set a precedent for surrounding counties and cities throughout the United States that already employ lethal deer managements plans as well as municipalities that are considering the use of lethal deer management.
Together, we can change the future and establish peaceful coexistence with deer in Arlington, Virginia and across the United States.
