Arlington County is planning to use sharpshooters at seven parks starting in February to “manage deer population.”
ARLINGTON COUNTY, Va. — Sharpshooters will be at seven Arlington County parks in an effort to manage the deer population starting in February. WUSA9 spoke to someone who lives near one of those parks that’s leading the charge to stop that plan and prevent the shooting of deer before it starts.
“It is inhumane, it is ineffective because it leads to a never-ending cycle of violence,” said animal rights activist Jeannette Louise Smith.
She created a no killing deer in Arlington blog in November 2024, when the Arlington County Board voted to move forward with the plan to shoot deer to control the population.
In December 2025, Louise Smith started an online petition that has over 800 signatures supporting her cause.
“We do want them to reconsider because they never ever, even with the deer reduction, reconsidered a humane plan,” said Louise Smith.
In 2021, researchers found 290 deer countywide.
In March 2025, a new study by Arlington County found fewer deer but still three to six times more than recommended levels. They claim deer overpopulation is harmful to local forests.
Arlington County leaders say they carefully considered deer sterilization, but say there’s no evidence it would adequately reduce the deer population. It also costs more than using a sharpshooter.
“It does cost money, but as Alonso Abugattas, the natural resources manager for Arlington County, said, it is 100% effective for the lifetime of the deer,” said Louise Smith.
On Monday, Louise Smith will get her first opportunity to speak face-to-face with a member of the Arlington County Board at its ‘Open Door Monday’ meeting, and she is encouraging others to join.
“It’s a critical time for people to speak up because the Arlington County Board has ignored all of our pleas,” said Louise Smith.
According to county officials, shooting operations, like the ones planned for next month, could continue in future years between January and March if they find it necessary.