2020 Program

• 2020 Deer Management Closure Map

On Nov. 18, City Council approved a resolution to contract with White Buffalo, Inc. for sharpshooting management services for the City of Ann Arbor's 2020 deer management activities, which was the fifth year of the program.  Due to limits placed on the research permit by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), sterilization was not part of the 2020 program. 

The city's contractor, White Buffalo, worked under a Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) amended special research permit, which allowed White Buffalo sharpshooters to lethally remove up to 150 deer in designated City of Ann Arbor parks, nature areas and city-selected private parcels. The approved lethal cull aimed to address the impact of deer browsing.  

​Parks Closures

The permit allowed lethal activities from Jan. 2 through Jan. 26 on private property and public land. The below parks were closed every day (including weekends) for all purposes Jan.2–Jan. 22 from 3 p.m. to midnight.

1. Barton Nature Area (only the Foster area north of Warrington Drive)
2. Bird Hills Nature Area
3. Cedar Bend/Island Park
4. Foxfire West Nature Area
5. Huron Parkway/Braun Nature Areas
6. Leslie Park Golf Course
7. Leslie Woods Nature Area
8. Oakwoods Nature Area
9. Ruthven Nature Area
10. South Pond Nature Area (only the area in the vicinity of the NAP office at 3875 E. Huron River Dr.)
11. Buttonbush (a new park north of Dhu Varren Road and West of Nixon Road)
12. Nichols Arboretum will be closed on the following dates only: Jan. 6, 13 and 20 from 3 p.m.–midnight. 

Jan. 2 through Jan. 26, several University of Michigan and Concordia university properties were closed every day from 3 p.m. to midnight. (Refer to the 2020 Deer Management Closure Map​)

Background  

The 2020 program was the fifth year of deer management activities in the City of Ann Arbor. Initially, City Council approved a four year deer management plan, however, the MDNR issued a five-year research permit. To complete the MDNR permit, City Council authorized an additional year of deer management activities, which were included in the 2020 fiscal year budget.