A team of GVSU students is conducting nightly surveys counting deer across Kent County, led by Ali Locher, professor in Natural Resource Management at Grand Valley State University.
“This time they’re also counting the number of fawns they see so we can get an idea of the doe/fawn ratio, a sense of what’s going on reproductively with the deer herd.”
The research is for the county’s Deer Management Coalition which partners GVSU, the road commission and local governments.
The group has found some surprising data.
Last year the number of Kent County Road Commission roadkill deer disposals exceeded the number of deer harvested by hunters.
“The number of deer that were brought to the landfill last year was over 180 tons. That’s equal to ten garbage trucks filled with dead deer. “
The project’s goal is to estimate the area’s deer density, data that can be used for creating strategies for reducing deer-vehicle collisions, minimize property damage, and protect natural habitats and landscaping.
“We’re trying to take a holistic approach to deer management countywide and it’s going to take everybody. Changing some mindsets, education, an understanding of the data and really a big picture of what’s going on throughout the county.”
The team will present a progress report at four community meetings next week to help the public understand what the data means and give residents opportunity for input in deer management plans.
“The reality is people and deer are suffering, so what as a community can we do about this?”
For more information about the Kent County Deer Management Coalition and its ongoing efforts, visit kentcountymi.gov/deer
Open House Schedule:
Monday, June 2 – Kent County North Campus
4191 17 Mile Road NE, Cedar Springs, MI
• 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 4 – City of Walker
4243 Remembrance Road NW, Walker, MI
• 10 –11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, June 4 – Kent County Road Commission Southwest Complex
131 84th Street SW, Byron Center, MI
• 6 –7:30 p.m.
