BLACKSBURG – Over the next few months, Blacksburg Police Department officers will be hunting deer within town limits in an effort to reduce the population and, therefore, reduce property damage and injuries from vehicle crashes involving deer.
The Town of Blacksburg recently announced the initiative.
“For over 20 years, the Town of Blacksburg has conducted deer culling operations in an attempt to reduce the amount of damage to property and injuries caused by traffic crashes involving deer,” the announcement reads. “In the last five years, the Blacksburg Police Department has responded to over 300 traffic crashes involving deer (nearly nine percent of all crashes in the town limits). In 2022, Montgomery County ranked second in the state for the most deer crashes (255, which included one fatal crash).”
“Town of Blacksburg police officers, with the approval of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, will continue deer culling over the next couple of months to reduce deer related traffic crashes and slow the potential spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD),” the statement continues. “Highly trained officers will conduct this culling in the areas of the town where this can be done safely. While conducting these operations, officers will be in unmarked vehicles and will activate emergency lights before culling deer.”
The public is asked to contact BPD Lieutenant K.V. Craver with any questions at (540) 443-1438.
Staff report
