Ann Arbor City Council is considering a $20,000 public engagement plan that will begin an effort to manage the local deer population.
Seven years ago, newly elected Ann Arbor City Council member Sabra Briere didn't get much support when she brought up the issue of deer in her ward. Now residents in the first, second and fifth wards also have concerns. "The risk of deer-car accidents, and those have indeed gone up slightly. Other people are concerned about the impact of what is a grazing animal on their gardens and yards," Briere says.
Briere thinks a deer management effort should be regional and include WashtenawCounty and county parks officials. The $20,000 will start a public engagement campaign geared towards getting a community-endorsed recommendation.
It's estimated that the total cost to harvest 40 to 50 deer would be as high as $27,000. The city spent just under $6,000 last year to dispose of deer carcasses.
Like 89.1 WEMU on Facebook and follow us on Twitter— Andrew Cluley is the Ann Arbor beat reporter, and anchor for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact him at 734.487.3363 or email him acluley@emich.edu.
