Three Rivers Park District is surveying for deer by way of helicopter today, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. People may see a helicopter flying low over several Minneapolis regional parks, including Chain of Lakes Regional Park, Theodore Wirth Regional Park, Minnehaha Parkway Regional Trail, Minnehaha Regional Park, and Mississippi Gorge Regional Park.
Every year, as conditions allow for surveying, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) partners with Three Rivers Park District to complete aerial deer surveys so that we can better understand how deer are using our park system and just how many might be out there. That information allows MPRB staff to make decisions about tree protection and fencing, and to also know where to expect that there could be more human/deer contact in the parks.
The survey intent is to count deer for tracking deer populations across the metro area as we work closely with local cities to maintain healthy deer herds. Aerial deer surveys can only be completed in specific conditions, most importantly when we have enough snow. That window gets smaller each season and with the warmer temperatures coming, have to seize our opportunities when we can. Some years aerial surveys cannot be completed because of a complete lack of appropriate snow conditions.