Community Corner
Lake Elmo Park Reserve Closed This Weekend
The park will be closed so hunters can shoot deer as part of a wildlife management program.
Hunters will be in Lake Elmo Park Reserve this weekend, which means the rest of Washington County residents need to stay out.
Some hunters have a "special lottery permit," which allows them to shoot deer within the park. It will be closed on Saturday, Nov. 16, and Sunday, Nov. 17.
"The deer herd in the park reserve and the adjacent Sunfish Lake Park has grown to 120, based upon a 2013 aerial survey," according to a Washington County news release. "Wildlife managers estimate that 30 percent of the actual deer population is missed through aerial surveys, which means there are possibly upwards of 156 deer in the park area."
The deer population around the park should be 45 to 75, based on a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recommendation.
"The large concentration of deer has caused much browsing destruction to the trees and shrubs in the park and poses a traffic hazard as deer cross the highways," according to the news release.
What's your opinion of the deer management program? Tell us in the comments.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.