Could 2025 be the year Falls Church city leaders decide to allow culling of deer within the community’s 2.2 square miles?
There were hints at a recent meeting that some in top leadership ranks are interested in at least starting a conversation.
On Monday, new City Council member Laura Downs asked City Manager Wyatt Shields if coming months would include a discussion of whether Falls Church should join the growing number of Northern Virginia localities that permit deer levels to be controlled on public property.
“I’m not trying to put you on the spot,” said Downs, who on Nov. 5 was elected to fill the remaining year of a vacant Council seat. She took office Nov. 12.
In response, Shields played his cards somewhat close to the vest.
“I don’t have a response at this point,” he said. “We’ll have some discussions with staff and perhaps engage with Council.”
A more definitive report could come in January, the manager said.
Shields, who has served as city manager since 2007 and has been on staff since 2003, said he does not recall any major previous discussions about culling white-tailed deer to minimize impacts on the broader regional ecosystem.
Neighboring Fairfax County conducts deer kills on public lands via archery, sharpshooting and publicly managed hunts. Fairfax also allows hunting on private property, but a parcel must be at least 20 acres to qualify — something not available in compact Falls Church.
The National Park Service also has a deer-culling program on some of its properties. Alexandria and Arlington do not, but Arlington County Board members on Nov. 16 took final steps to do so starting during the winter of 2025-26, using sharpshooters.
Arlington spent two years developing its plan, which faced criticism from some residents who, at various points, questioned the need to limit deer populations and argued that sterilization would be a more humane management method.
“It’s been a long time getting here,” Arlington Board Chair Libby Garvey said the day a final vote was taken.
If Falls Church leaders opt to take up the issue in 2025, it will join a number of potentially contentious topics on their plate. Council members already are in the midst of a study of accessory-dwelling units, and could consider moving to ranked-choice voting for conducting Council elections.
