The Southfield and Farmington city councils each voted unanimously Monday, May 5, to authorize deer culls to address what some say is a growing problem with overpopulation.

The two cities are following Farmington Hills’ lead; its council voted 6-1 on April 28 in favor of a cull.

A cull is an organized hunt of a portion of the deer population by sharpshooters. Farmington Hills and Southfield will contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to perform the cull. It will cost the two cities about $20,000 each.

Farmington will contract with Farmington Hills for the service; no dollar amount was available Tuesday.

Officials in all three cities say overpopulation is creating safety hazards because of the high incidence of car-deer crashes. They are also concerned about destruction of landscaping and the possibility of deer spreading disease. The animals carry ticks that can spread illnesses like Lyme disease.

In Farmington Hills and Farmington, the deer management plan also includes limited bowhunting by volunteer public safety professionals. Farmington Hills will require them to demonstrate hunting proficiency.

Southfield Mayor Ken Siver said his city looked at adding bowhunting but decided against it.

He said the cull will be held in January when fewer people are outside. It will likely take place at parks, golf courses and other public lands. It will probably not be announced ahead of time, he said.

“We’re not saying where,” he said. “We don’t want protesters or do-it-yourselfers to show up.”

Farmington Hills officials say the cull will be conducted at night, with sharpshooters in trees, using thermal imaging equipment to locate the deer.

The first cull will be held next year, likely in the winter. Farmington and Farmington Hills officials will consult with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources on conducting the culls in following years; DNR officials say it takes at least five years to begin to see results from the culls.

The council meetings in Farmington and Southfield did not draw opponents. That was in sharp contrast to the Farmington Hills meeting, where dozens of opponents and some proponents addressed the council for more than four hours.

Although opponents outnumbered those who favored the cull at the meeting, Farmington Hills council members said they received hundreds of emails and calls from supporters of a cull.

In 2022, more than 60% of Southfield voters approved an advisory question on conducting a cull.

“I never hear from people who live here who say don’t kill the deer,” Siver said. “I hear all the time that the city needs to do something about the deer. We’ve talked and talked about this for years.”

Farmington Hills officials said the percentage of deer to be killed would be calculated in consultation with the USDA and DNR.

DNR officials say the population in southeast Michigan is nearing a point where it could become unhealthy for the deer.

In all three cities, venison from the culls will be donated to food banks. One deer will provide about 160 meals, according to Farmington documents.

A 2022 aerial deer survey in Southfield counted over 40 deer per mile in some areas. A 2005 study estimated that aerial surveys undercount by about 50%.

Southfield averaged over two car-deer crashes per week in 2024. That figure only counts cases where the animals were recovered from the roadway. Nationally, only about one-third of car-deer crashes are reported.

Opponents favor nonlethal means of addressing overpopulation, such as educating drivers about how to avoid car-deer crashes and promoting the use of landscaping that deer don’t eat.