WASHINGTON — The increasing deer population and the trouble it brings is the topic of discussion at a public meeting Monday evening in Prince William County.

“Several of us on the board are very concerned about the spread of Lyme disease. We’re also concerned about the deer population being out of control and causing traffic accidents,” says Prince William County Chairman Corey Stewart.

Stewart says county officials are looking at numerous solutions for controlling the deer problem, and that they need to consider every reasonable option to keep the deer population under control. But he says sterilization won’t be considered.

In February, Fairfax City began sterilizing does as a means of controlling the deer population, but the program costs about $50,000, according to The Washington Post.

Stewart says that the meeting Monday evening at 6:30 p.m., at Chinn Park Regional Library, at 13065 Chinn Park Drive in Woodbridge, will focus on the deer population, Lyme disease and bow hunting.

“We’re always looking for ways, like the rest of the region, to cull the deer population, keep its numbers under control and also to control the spread of Lyme disease and traffic accidents caused by deer.”

He says the spread of Lyme disease is not just a Prince William County problem, but a region-wide one, and says that it’s on the rise.

“It’s a concern not only in Prince William but in Loudoun, Fairfax and other jurisdictions around Washington.”

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