pictures, they sent in videos - they had stories to tell. Twelve percent were against doing anything at all. Eighty-eight percent said,  Yes, I've suffered some sort of damage,' of which half said,  We need to get it under control.' 

A cull divides the community

The most likely course of action is a deer cull - but that option drew pushback from residents who spoke during the public comment period.

 I enjoy seeing the deer in my yard, and I think what you're doing is really uncalled for,  said resident Judy Penkis.

For now, the township isn't moving forward with a cull. Trustees voted to bring on a USDA biologist for three years to get a more accurate count of the deer population and make recommendations from there. The $150,000 cost could be reduced if neighboring communities also use the biologist's services.

Some options already off the table

Residents raised deer sterilization as an alternative. The city of Ann Arbor tried that approach for three years, but it did not prove effective. Sterilization is off the table.

Relocating deer or administering contraceptives in an urban setting are also not options - Cervenak says both are illegal under Michigan law.

Meanwhile, the urgency is real: In 2025, Bloomfield Township recorded 114 car crashes involving deer - the highest number in five years.

Southeast Michigan residents can weigh in now

Cervenak says the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) is currently running its Pulse of the Region survey, which asks residents across Southeast Michigan about their experiences with deer. The survey asks whether residents see deer, whether they've suffered damage, and whether they would volunteer their property for any future deer reduction efforts.

The survey is open online through Nov. 1. Southeast Michigan residents can participate at semcog.org.