Deer Overpopulation: Working to Address a Regional Issue in Farmington Hills
As the overpopulation of deer in Farmington Hills and Southeast Michigan becomes of increasing concern, the City of Farmington Hills is working with partners across Southeast Michigan to find a way to address this regional issue.
The City of Farmington Hills is one of more than 25 communities and organizations working together as part of the Southeast Michigan Urban Deer Coalition. The Coalition, which was formed in 2021 as the Oakland County Community Deer Coalition, has since expanded to include communities from several counties, including Wayne and Washtenaw, as well as statewide organizations, including the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
“To manage the urban deer herd, we must work together to have a lasting impact,” said Farmington Hills Mayor Theresa Rich. “We are pleased to be working closely with regional leaders as we lay the groundwork for a future strategy.”
Over the past few years, City leaders in Farmington Hills have been learning from experts at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, as well as the University of Michigan. Farmington Hills City Council members have also been sharing this knowledge with their counterparts in other Oakland County communities.
In March 2024, the City of Farmington Hills hosted Chad Stewart, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) deer, elk and moose management specialist, to share his expertise at a meeting of the South Oakland County Mayor’s Association (SOCMA). Representatives from Oakland County Executive’s office and 11 other Oakland County communities, including Southfield, attended the meeting to gain insight on how to address the issue with a regional approach.
“In 2022, more than 60% of Southfield residents voted to cull the urban deer herd, but the reality is, unless we take a coordinated, regional approach, any action would only be a temporary solution to a persistent problem,” City of Southfield Mayor Kenson Siver said after the SOCMA meeting in 2024. “We’re grateful to the City of Farmington Hills for bringing area leaders together to strategize on this longstanding issue.”
In 2022, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) conducted a “Pulse of the Region” survey to collect perspectives on deer from Michiganders. The goal of the survey was to get a sense of how community members were feeling about deer and to share those findings with Southeast Michigan communities, as they work to determine potential strategies and plan initiatives to address challenges and concerns associated with deer. The SEMCOG data indicated that approximately 73% of Farmington Hills residents have concerns related to deer overpopulation.
One of the main concerns related to deer overpopulation in an urban setting like Farmington Hills, is an increase in car-deer crashes. In 2023, there were nearly 288,000 car-deer crashes in Michigan and more than 2,100 of those were in Oakland County, according to the Transportation Improvement Authority. In Farmington Hills, there were 144 reported crashes involving deer in 2023 – an 18% increase over 2022. Community members have also expressed concerns related to deer having a negative impact on their landscaping and potential exposure to diseases, such as Lyme disease.
At a study session on Monday, March 24, Farmington Hills City Council heard a presentation highlighting key information and data regarding urban deer management in Southeast Michigan, potential regional solutions and best practices. Community members were invited to attend the study session to learn along with City Council. Speakers included a subject matter expert from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, master’s students from the University of Michigan and City staff.
The presentation included a breakdown of relevant data, including car-deer crashes, impacts of deer overpopulation on the environment, best practices for managing urban deer populations and costs associated with these management practices. The presentation also reviewed success stories from other Michigan communities and organizations that are working to manage deer overpopulation, as well as shared a draft resolution for action across the region. City Council did not make any decisions about how to move forward, but will consider the resolution at a City Council meeting in April.
Community members may share their input by attending any City Council meeting, even if deer management is not on the agenda. City Council meetings are typically held the second and fourth Mondays of the month at 7:30 p.m. Each person will have a maximum of three minutes to address members of City Council during the public comment portion near the end of the meeting.
Community members who wish to share their input but are not able to attend a City Council meeting in person, may submit written comments to the City Clerk’s Office to be shared with City Council members by emailing FHClerk@fhgov.com.
Click here to view the presentation slides from the Monday, March 24 City Council.
Farmington Hills has tracked over 10 years of deer-related concerns from residents. These concerns include increasing deer-vehicle accidents, damage to landscapes, habitat destruction, and the spread of diseases, like Lyme disease. A combination of resident surveys, data collection, aerial deer counts, and a rise in invasive plant species have highlighted the overpopulation of deer in the area. Managing the deer population will help reduce these risks, as recommended by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR).
Pending City Council approval of a resolution, the City plans to start with organized professional deer culls in 2026, with the possibility of adding a highly regulated archery hunting program in the future. The MDNR considers the combination of culling and regulated hunting to be the safest and most effective way to manage deer in urban and suburban areas.
The MDNR only approves lethal methods, such as culling and hunting, as the permissible options for managing deer in Michigan. Alternative methods (not approved by the MDNR), such as relocation or sterilization, have been found to be ineffective and costly.
A cull is a controlled operation performed at night by trained sharpshooters using rifles with silencers and thermal imaging to identify deer. The sharpshooters are elevated in tree stands, and when a deer is identified, they shoot it from above. Pending City Council approval of a resolution, the City would contract organizations, like the USDA, to perform culls to assist in managing the deer population.
A highly regulated organized archery hunt allows qualified hunters to hunt deer under controlled conditions. Hunters use bows or crossbows – not guns – while elevated in tree stands. If approved, the City will charge a fee to qualified hunters selected through a draw, who will have to pass a skills test prior to participation. These hunters will assist with deer management.
Pending City Council approval, organized deer culls may begin in 2026, with the highly regulated archery hunting program potentially starting in 2027.
The City will collaborate with experts, like the USDA, to perform deer culls. If a regulated archery hunting program is approved, it will involve the MDNR and qualified hunters will need to meet the following criteria: If a regulated archery hunting program is approved, the City will provide special permits to hunters and work with the MDNR on program logistics. Hunts will be scheduled for 2-4 days per year. Qualified hunters will need to meet the following criteria:
a. Hunters must have a hunter safety certificate and hunting experience.
b. Applicants must pass a shooting proficiency test with their bow or crossbow.
c. Selected hunters will participate in a drawing and purchase a deer hunting license through the MDNR.
d. Hunters will attend a mandatory class on safety, regulations and guidelines.
The City will minimize disruptions while addressing deer overpopulation. The deer management plan will be part of the City’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan, which is reviewed every five years. Efforts will be made to avoid negative impacts on residents and the environment.
Pending approval of a resolution, the City will work with the USDA, MDNR and other agencies to ensure all culls and hunts follow federal, state and local laws. The USDA will conduct culls at night, using trained sharpshooters elevated in tree stands. If the archery program is approved, hunts will take place for 2-4 days each year, with selected hunters elevated in tree stands.
If approved by the City Council, the City will temporarily lift Ordinance No. 18-307, which bans the discharge of firearms, but only for the deer culls and highly regulated archery hunts. During culls, authorized USDA agents will use rifles with silencers. If the archery program is approved, only bows and crossbows will be allowed—no rifles or other guns.
The City will work with the USDA and MDNR to determine safe and effective locations for culls and archery hunts. These locations could be public and private land, with permission from property owners, and will be away from populated areas.
Venison (deer meat) from culls be donated to local food banks, such as CARES, to help those in need. Venison from the highly regulated archery hunts will also be donated to food banks, with some available to hunters. On average, venison from one deer provides 160 meals.
Excessive deer populations pose safety risks, like deer-vehicle collisions, and negatively impact the local environment by damaging landscapes and spreading diseases. Managing the deer population will help ensure a safer, healthier environment for everyone in the community.
You can stay informed through the City’s official website, eNews, social media, flyers, electronic boards, and local media. You can also watch Farmington Hills in Focus, the City’s monthly news program on the City’s cable channel, Spectrum Channel 203 and AT&T Channel 99, or on any of the City’s social media, including:
· NextDoor
· YouTube
Click here to sign up for the City of Farmington Hills eNews.
City Council will be voting on the draft resolution for deer management at the City Council meeting on Monday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. This meeting will be held in Harrison Hall on the second floor of The Hawk, located at 29995 W. 12 Mile Road.