Community Corner

Five Ways To Handle The Deer Population In Shaker Heights

Shaker Heights officials are studying ways to handle the city's deer population. Here are five ways other cities handle deer.

Shaker Heights officials are discussing how to handle its growing deer population.

City officials hope for a regional approach and have begun discussions with area communities on ways they can better control the deer population. Mayor Earl Leiken is expected to provide an update on plans soon.

Cities all over Ohio and the country have used many ways to try to control the deer population. Here are five options Shaker Heights could use.

1. Hunting and Culling

First a disclaimer: city officials have said they are not interested in a hunting program. 

Hunting is one of the most prevalent ways to control deer in Northeast Ohio and around the state. It's also one of the most expensive. For example, Solon has a sharpshooting program. Other Northeast Ohio communities, including Mentor, also have some form of culling or hunting.

2. Ban On Deer Feeding

Another common way cities try to control the deer population is by issuing a ban on deer feeding. Anyone caught feeding deer would be fined. Avon Lake has banned deer feeding.

3. Fencing Or Wildlife tunnels

Some communities use effective deer fencing to guide deer away from busy roadways. Others use wildlife tunnels that go beneath busy roads so animals have safe crossing.

The one issue with this method is that it is very expensive and sometimes considered cost prohibitive by most communities.

4. Birth Control

Deer birth control is not allowed in Ohio except for during approved scientific research. The reason is that officials do not yet know the long-term consequences of giving deer birth control. However, scientists are studying it in hopes of using it in the future.

5. Deer Park

There are many people out there who are looking for new ways to handle deer populations. Many of these ideas are untested and unproven. One such example is to create a "deer park" in a secluded wooded area that is brimming with plants deer love to eat. The theory is that if the deer have all the food they need at the park, they won't need to move around and keep them off of the roads.


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