Deer Management

Since 2011, the City of East Lansing has continued to focus on deer management in and around residential areas in the community to address urban deer issues. The City has formed beneficial, ongoing partnerships with USDA Wildlife Services, the Michigan DNR and MSU to analyze deer population data in East Lansing. A few of the steps taken are highlighted in the above timeline (click for a larger view) and more detail is provided below:

• On July 8, 2014, the East Lansing City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1334, prohibiting the feeding of deer in East Lansing.
• The City hosted Deer Management Community Meetings in October 2014 and September 2019. View the summary and summary presentation from the October 2014 meeting. View poll results from the September 2019 meeting.
• In late 2015, the MDNR proposed that a disease surveillance deer cull be performed by USDA Wildlife Service officials in two East Lansing parks (Harrison Meadows and Whitehills Park) in response to the Chronic Wasting Disease discovered in Meridian Township. The proposal was brought to the City Council in conjunction with a public hearing on Ordinance No. 1358 on November 17, 2015. Upon hearing resident feedback during the public hearing, City Council deferred a decision until February 2016.
• Ordinance No. 1358 was adopted by the City Council on February 23, 2016, prohibiting arrows from being discharged and requiring bows to be encased within the City. The ordinance also makes exceptions to the prohibition of hunting in parks within the City for officers acting in the discharge of their duties or persons acting under the direction of the State of Michigan as part of a wildlife control protocol approved by the City Council. Due to time sensitivity, the MDNR's proposed disease surveillance deer cull was no longer on the table for consideration in February.
• The City continues to conduct deer herd survey counts each fall/winter to track deer population trends throughout the City. 
• Since 2011, community members have shared their feedback on the deer population in East Lansing by completing the City of East Lansing's Deer Management Survey. Take the survey here  . Results of a previous survey can be found here.  
• The City tracks data on deer-vehicle accidents and CWD presence in the City. View the data here.   
• In partnership with MSU, the City participated in deer surveillance throughout summer 2019. Trail cams were placed in seven City parks to better understand the deer population and the movement of East Lansing's deer herds. 
• On February 11, 2020, East Lansing City Council Council discussed and authorized a proposed deer removal program for the purposes of managing the deer population in the City of East Lansing.
• Professional deer removal by USDA Wildlife Services biologists highly trained in the use of firearms took place in East Lansing's parks in winter 2021, winter 2022 and winter 2023. Please view the FAQ below for additional information.