Nat'l Park Service May Cull Deer On Sandy Hook: Report

HIGHLANDS, NJ — The National Park Service is considering culling the white-tailed deer population at Sandy Hook, the Asbury Park Press reports.

Culling means to reduce the size of the herd, and it would likely be done by killing some of the deer.

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This is leading some animal activists to be concerned the no-hunting ban will be lifted at Sandy Hook, NJ.com reported last week.

Sue Russell, wildlife policy director of the Animal Protection League of New Jersey, told NJ.com last week that over-development has forced deer into the park.

"They have nowhere else to go. It's a perfect habitat for deer," she said.

The National Park Service has not yet confirmed it will cull the herd, or allow hunting in the park. But they do say deer have become a problem at Sandy Hook.

The deer have damaged native vegetation, plus rare and unique habitats, such as the park's maritime holly and red cedar forests. The Park Service said it is currently in the process of coming up with a "management plan" for the deer, and it encourages the public to put their input in here: parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkID=237&projectID=135811&documentID=150632