LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A planned "wildlife reduction operation" at the site of Origin Park in Clarksville, Indiana, is expected to begin Monday night.
According to a social media post by the City of New Albany Government, the shooting and eradication of deer will take place during overnight hours from Monday, Feb. 23 to Friday, Feb. 27.
The deer and their remains will be processed on-site at Origin Park.
"Out of concern for the public as well as the wildlife population, we want the public to be informed about this activity and gunfire in Origin Park in Clark County," New Albany Mayor Jeff Gahan said in a social media post.
Resident Sarah Young stands in total disbelief reading Gahan's Facebook post as she comes to the park often.
"There's never a time where I feel like it's alarming or concerning that the amount of wildlife that is here would present a problem to the public at all," Young said.
Another local resident, Steve Acree, agrees with Young, adding the community embraces the wildlife in the area.
"I've never heard of anyone having any issues with them either most of the people in the community love coming over here seeing the deer," said Acree.
New Albany's post said Clarksville officials told them and surrounding agencies starting Monday, deer will be shot and eradicated during the night. The reduction operation will begin Feb. 23 and end Feb. 27.
Emery Crossing and McCollough Pike in Clarksville and into New Albany may be closed during the night for safety reasons, and neighbors will likely hear gunfire.
"It's a little alarming that they didn't give more notice to this," said Young.
Young said she knew nothing about this reduction operation, and neither did Clarksville Town Council President Bob McEwen.
McEwen shared a statement opposing the deer reduction operation saying that the "reduction hunt was arranged without notification to, or discussion by the town council."
It's unclear how many deer will be killed in the area.
"The public deserves to know numbers," said Young. "It should not be just 'you're going to hear gunshots in the woods this week.'"
When we called Clarksville Police Department, Clark County Dispatch said the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services is handling the operation and all questions should be directed to them.
Young said important information, like how many deer will be killed and why, is missing, and that's something she has a big problem with.
"I don't think that they should be doing that at all but if they have to, if there is a reason of concern and safety there should be reasoning behind it," said Young.
River Heritage Conservancy is behind the development of Origin Park, a $260—$280 million, 430-acre project along the Ohio River in Clarksville, Indiana. The park will include hiking and biking trails, boating areas and an event center overlooking the river.
The past decade has largely been spent acquiring land, fundraising and cleaning up the property. Some sections of the park are already open, including three-quarters of a mile of hiking trails.
Developers expect the event and wedding venue to be completed by spring.
WDRB has reached out to the USDA about the wildlife reduction operation but haven't heard back.
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