Shaker Heights Seeks Regional Cooperation To Handle Deer Population

Shaker Heights Mayor Earl Leiken said city officials are working with a half dozen surrounding cities in hopes of coming up with ways to handle the area's growing deer population.

Leiken did not bring up any specific recommendations the cities are discussing, but said they hope to come up with ideas in the next couple of months.

Leiken said he is in discussions with officials from Beachwood, South Euclid, Cleveland Heights, Pepper Pike and University Heights to hopefully come up with regional solutions to the growing number of deer. Lyndhurst has also expressed interest in collaborating and may also open discussion with other Hillcrest communities, Leiken said.

"There is a major problem with proliferation of deer," he said. "They do not have a natural enemy in this area. They just keep reproducing and the population is growing."

Shaker residents and officials have been exploring whether the deer population has gotten larger in the city and are open to discussing options for dealing with it. 

In June, a Landon Road resident shot a deer after it attacked his wife, children and dog in the family's yard.