Over the past three years, the main institutional critic of plans in Arlington to embark on deer-management has been the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.
But that organization seems to have now accepted its efforts have not turned the tide.
In a Sept. 13 e-mail to supporters, the organization acknowledged that the county government’s plan to move forward with sharpshooters, starting in the winter of 2025-26, is unlikely to be derailed. But the organization remained unhappy.
“We believe there are more humane ways to manage deer populations, and we do not support this cull,” it said.
The organization’s opposition swayed neither county staff, which has promoted lethal means of addressing what it sees as an overabundance of deer in Arlington’s 26 square miles, nor County Board members, who have backed that position.
Board members have to take one more step – making changes to zoning – to allow for managed kills in the county. A vote is likely to come by the end of the year.
While the Animal Welfare League was vocal in its criticism, other organizations voiced support for using lethal means of addressing deer.
The community seems split: A survey conducted by the county government several years ago showed more interest in non-lethal efforts, but one released recently showed greater acceptance of use of force.
