In an effort to address deer overpopulation, Farmington Hills is considering annual professional culls by sharpshooters and a loosening of city ordinances to allow limited amateur bow hunting.

The City Council held a standing-room-only informational meeting Monday, March 24, during which an expert from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources gave information on methods of controlling the deer population.

The deer herd in Farmington Hills and surrounding areas stands at about 1,500, experts say. Many residents say the city needs to decrease the population because of the rising number of car-deer crashes, destruction of landscaping and health hazards, as deer carry ticks that can cause illnesses like Lyme disease.

Other residents say these drawbacks could be controlled by non-lethal means, such as better education on how to avoid car-deer crashes and how to protect landscaping.

The council will likely vote on a plan at a meeting on April 28, which could be held at a location other than the usual Council Chambers at City Hall, to accommodate the large number of interested residents.

Mayor Theresa Rich said a solution to deer overpopulation must be a regional approach. Farmington and Southfield are also interested in enacting plans to address the problem and other southeast Michigan counties may also join the effort, she said.

More than 60% of Southfield voters approved an advisory question in 2022 to allow a professional hunt. Southfield has not organized a hunt, but is waiting for other cities, including Farmington Hills, to join the effort so there is more of a regional solution, Rich said.

The Farmington Hills council approved a feeding ban in 2017 that has not addressed the issue, Rich said.

“We should not kick the can down the road. That’s not fair to our residents,” Rich said.

She said she favors the professional hunt but is “not there” on allowing amateur bow hunting.

Overpopulation is a safety issue because of the large number of car-deer crashes, she said.

Farmington Hills reported 144 crashes involving deer in 2023, an 18% increase over 2022.

Oakland County ranked first or second among Michigan’s 83 counties for the number of car-deer crashes from 2021-2023, according to the Michigan State Police.

Oakland County recorded 2,125 such crashes last year, second only to Kent County in west Michigan, which had 2,171.

In 2021, Oakland topped all Michigan counties, recording 1,853 incidents, MSP said.

Councilwoman Valerie Knol said It used to be “a treat” to see one or two deer in her yard.

“I now have nine to 12 deer in my yard every day, several times a day,” she said. They are eating large amounts of vegetation, causing a loss of privacy between neighbors in her area, she said.

Chad Fedewa, acting deer specialist for the DNR, and Bryan Farmer, deputy director of the city’s Special Services Department, suggested professional hunts by sharpshooters annually and allowing limited public bow or crossbow hunting in specified areas of the city, such as parks, on certain occasions.

Fedewa and Farmer suggested the effort could begin next year. Professional and amateur hunters would have to demonstrate proficiency and gain approval from the city.

The effort would be successful if it reduced the deer herd by 35-40% annually; it could take several years before residents see any relief in terms of less destruction of vegetation or fewer car crashes, Fedewa said.

Such efforts have been successful in other Michigan cities and townships, he said. Venison from the hunts is donated to charities that address food insecurity.

Deer reproduce quickly and adapt well to suburban environments. Fedewa said other means of controlling the population are costly and ineffective. These include relocation and having wildlife experts shoot female deer with a birth control agent.

Deer overpopulation is an issue in most of the state, so relocating the animals just moves the problem somewhere else, he said. There is also concern about spreading disease.

Knol said relocation is no more humane than killing the animals, as they are high-strung and often don’t survive a move.

Councilman Michael Bridges said the feeding ban could be more effective if enforced. City officials acknowledge there have been few citations.

Knol said city officials “can’t be everywhere at once.” She said violators are given a warning and briefly refrain from putting food out for the deer, then return to feeding them after a short time.

“That is not a wildlife management plan,” she said.

Resident Pamela Santo told the council that deer destroyed $9,000 in landscaping at her home on 1.5 acres.

Outside the meeting, she said she has come to several city meetings about deer overpopulation over the years.

“They’re not going to do anything. It’s bullsh—,” she said.

Resident Sue Gerrity expressed concern about the safety of hunting in city parks.

She said hunting is allowed at several Oakland County parks that are much larger. She lives near Heritage Park in Farmington Hills, one of the city’s largest parks, but it is much smaller than a county park. She isn’t convinced hunting would be safe for adjacent homeowners..

“I walk there all the time,” she said of Heritage Park, adding that hunting could disturb the park’s peaceful atmosphere.

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