Green River's deer count increased over past year

The number of deer in Green River seems to be going up.

The Green River Police Department, along with helpers from the Wyoming Game and Fish and volunteers, recently conducted the yearly visual count of deer inside city limits. Crews surveyed eight different sections in Green River and counted a total of 105 deer, according to a press release. This is an increase of 15 compared to last year's count.

Green River Chief of Police Tom Jarvie said the city tries to be consistent in the timing of the year and time of day when they do counts, but weather and the deer themselves can be variables. This year's count was conducted Thursday, Jan. 26.

The annual deer count has been conducted for the past seven years, and the average for all seven years is 88 deer. The last time the city's deer count was at 105 was in 2018. The lowest the deer count has been was 61 in 2021. Of the eight sections the city is divided into for the count, the highest deer numbers have usually been found in section two, which is the area around Mansface.

Chief Jarvie said vehicle crashes resulting from deer remain fairly low, with only five such crashes reported to the GRPD during 2022.  

Jarvie also reminds residents that it is against City Ordinance to feed deer. He says citations for feeding deer were issued this past year.

The City Public Works division is responsible for removing dead deer from the city, and reported 30 carcasses were disposed of in 2022.