The federal government said Monday that a squadron of sharpshooters killed 20 white-tailed deer in Rock Creek Park during a three-night operation designed to trim the ranks of the animals that had become more prevalent in Northwest Washington in recent decades.

“Rock Creek Park resource management specialists, in coordination with United States Park Police and local law enforcement, worked closely with highly trained marksmen from the United States Department of Agriculture to reduce the deer population in the park,” Tara Morrison, the park’s superintendent, said in a statement that noted the efforts took place “without incident.”