Safety Issue – Troy’s Deer Overpopulation

Overpopulation of deer is unsafe for deer and for people.

• Deer Vehicle Crashes (DVCs) are on the rise due to loss of habitat (from the improved economy).
• Car and medical insurance losses, chance of serious injury or death to people. 200 people each year die on U.S. roads. Death to most deer.
• $2 billion annual property damage, half to vehicles.
• Also unsafe for pets, especially large dogs (front hooves used as defense).
• Deer ticks carry Lyme Disease.

What can we do about it? Lots of options. Several will be examined below and in future articles.

Regional solution is needed

• Deer do not respect fences unless 8 feet or higher.
• They will migrate from one city to the next if they lose habitat or more food is available in the next township.
• Rochester Hills has a staff member who works half time on deer management.
• Work with DNR to determine size of herd for healthy deer in each township (6x6 square miles, variable amounts of deer habitat).
• Work together with county government and other cities in Oakland County.
• Allow limited bow hunting in more parks and other areas (Nature Center for a day or two) than currently?
• See Pittsburgh solution.

This is part 7 of a series on deer overpopulation and safety. What to do about it is the topic for future articles. Here are links for

Part 1, Deer Overpopulation and Road Safety

Part 2: The Adams Road Deer Crossing

Part 3, Deer at the Troy Nature Center

Part 4, Troy Neighborhoods & Deer

Part 5, Deer Countermeasures

Part 6, Coyotes & deer – unsafe for pets, people

#deer #urbanwildlife #wildlife #deeroverpopulation