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City In Montana Suspends Deer Culling Due To Budget Cuts

Mule deer
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
/
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
City officials in Helena have suspended culling of urban deer.

City officials in Montana have suspended its culling of urban deer this fall and winter seasons amid budget cuts.

The Helena Independent Record reported Tuesday that the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission recommended the city of Helena be allowed to continue culling despite budget cuts.

City officials say the former police chief made the decision to cut the program when the department was ordered to make more than $470,000 in cuts.

Officials say the program costs the city about $30,000 a year. Officials say the program combats complaints about landscaping damage and vehicle collisions.

Officials say the city has usually culled about 100 deer a year and populations have remained steady. 

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