Wildlife experts taking survey on deer
What do you think about deer? State wildlife managers want to know.
Everyone is invited to take an online survey through April 16.
The survey is part of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Deer Management Initiative.
Participants will be asked about the DNR’s deer management practices and the overall significance of deer in residents’ lives.
“We recognized our proficiency in surveying hunters but acknowledged a gap in gauging general public attitudes and views toward deer more broadly,” said Chad Stewart, DNR deer, elk and moose management specialist.
“We want to learn more about how important deer are to our residents, what trends they see in their local areas, and what concerns they may have about deer in our state,” he said in a statement.
Deer overpopulation is a concern in many regions of the state, especially in urban areas where experts believe it contributes to a high number of car-deer crashes.
Oakland County ranked second among Michigan’s 83 counties for the number of car-deer crashes in 2022, according to the Michigan State Police.
Oakland recorded 2,009 such crashes that year, second only to Kent County in west Michigan, which had 2,250.
In 2021, Oakland topped all Michigan counties, recording 1,853 incidents, MSP said.
Experts say deer reproduce quickly and adapt well to urban environments. Efforts to control reproduction are costly and may have limited effectiveness.
Leaders in several south Oakland cities are seeking a regional solution to overpopulation.
To take the survey, go to Michigan.gov/Deer