CLARKSVILLE, Ind. (WDRB) — The planned wildlife reduction operation at Clarksville's Origin Park was paused just hours before it was scheduled to begin so officials can review the process.
The City of New Albany posted on social media Sunday that the shooting and eradication of deer at the park was scheduled to take place during overnight hours from Feb. 23-27.
New Albany and Clarksville officials said they weren't originally told about these plans until over the weekend.
A permit states no more than 80 white-tailed deer can be taken because they're causing damage to the property. River Heritage Conservancy holds the permit and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources signed off on it. That permit was issued Jan. 5.
River Heritage Conservancy, which holds the permit, said the deer are "causing or threatening to case damage to property."
"The City of New Albany has had no part in the planning of this event," New Albany Mayor Jeff Gahan said in a statement Monday. "Like others, we share the same concerns about the justification for this. We felt compelled to notify the public because Origin Park failed to do so."
In a statement Monday, River Heritage Conservancy said DNR observed "unusual grazing patterns among deer."
"Subsequent assessments revealed a deer population exceeding recommended levels for the park's habitat capacity," River Heritage Conservancy officials said in a statement. "As a result, a reduction in the number of deer was advised to restore ecological balance."
After observing these behaviors, River Heritage Conservancy partnered with the United States Department of Agriculture to figure out how to address the deer overpopulation.
"The report found that a number of deer within the park were malnourished. While population reduction is never a popular decision, even within our own office, it is a necessary course of action to protect the long-term health of the park," River Heritage Conservancy said in a statement. "This is not an eradication or hunting effort, but rather a rightsizing of the herd to ensure a healthy deer population and maintain the ecological balance for other native wildlife."
According to the deer control permit application, deer in the area are consuming plants "at an unsustainable rate for establishment or regeneration."
Origin's Park associate director of park operations and DNR officials met to discuss the deer population in the area. That's when it became "apparent that there was an overpopulation of deer."
Officials said the deer meat will be distributed through charitable networks to help community members experiencing food insecurity.
"This approach ensures that the process is conducted responsibly and that the harvested deer provides a meaningful community benefit," River Heritage Conservancy said in a statement.
River Heritage Conservancy is planning to meet with Clarksville Town Council members to review the process and answer questions before beginning the deer reduction operation.
"We thus feel that a proactive approach to deer wildlife management is imperative for the successful establishment of the native plantings as well as a measure to protect the investment of their installation," officials said in the deer control permit application.
The full statement from River Heritage Conservancy can be viewed below:
More Coverage:
Town leaders left in the dark about wildlife reduction operation at Clarksville's Origin Park
Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
