A regional deer cull program in Oakland County, Michigan, resulted in 70 animals removed during the first year of the partnership.
With the deer cull, over 2,300 pounds of venison were donated to area food banks.
This program is the result of several years of discussion on how to manage a wild deer population that is living among the suburban communities, efforts that included research from students at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability.
The cities of Farmington, Farmington Hills and Southfield are now working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services on the effort known as the Southeast Michigan Urban Deer Coalition. All three had independently made decisions to recommend deer culls before the coalition began.
Additional communities are expected to join the partnership as the effort continues.
