Archived News Release: November 19, 2019 - 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 is the fifth year of the program.
The approved lethal cull for the winter of 2020 will seek to address the impact of deer browsing in select areas with the lethal removal of up to 150 deer. The city's contractor, White Buffalo, will work under a Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) amended special research permit, which allows 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 permit allows lethal activities from Jan. 2 through Jan. 26 on private property and public land. The below parks will be closed every day (including weekends) for all purposes Jan. 2–Jan. 26 from 3 p.m. to midnight.
- Barton Nature Area (only the Foster Road area north of Warrington Drive)
- Bird Hills Nature Area
- Cedar Bend/Island Park
- Foxfire West Nature Area
- Huron Parkway/Braun Nature Areas
- Leslie Park Golf Course
- Leslie Woods Nature Area
- Oakwoods Nature Area
- South Pond Nature Area (only the area in the vicinity of the NAP office at 3875 E. Huron River Drive)
- Buttonbush (a new park north of Dhu Varren Road and west of Nixon Road)
- Pending final authorization from University of Michigan, 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 (pending final authorization) and Concordia university properties will be closed every day from 3 p.m. to midnight. (Refer to the 2020 Deer Management Closure Map)
Sharpshooting will not occur from a moving vehicle, but may occur from a parked vehicle. Sharpshooting will occur by the city's contractor on city-selected, privately owned parcels subject to the owner's consent and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Residents can continue with their normal daily routines since all deer management activities will occur on private property only. Unauthorized trespassing is not permitted and will be subject to enforcement action.
Signage in multiple languages will be posted in closed parks, nature areas and university site entrances and notable access points at least 24 hours in advance of the Jan. 2 closures. Residents living adjacent to designated parks or nature areas will be informed of closures directly via postcard.
To view the closure map, read answers to frequently asked questions or sign up for deer management email notifications, visit www.a2gov.org/deermanagement. If you have specific questions, please email [email protected] or leave a message on the deer hotline (734) 794-6295 and a staff member will return your call.
