Southeast Michigan communities are being asked to weigh in on rising urban deer populations, as concerns grow over vehicle crashes, property damage, and health risks tied to Lyme disease and other illnesses throughout the region. While some residents enjoy seeing deer, communities across the area are working to balance that with growing safety and ecological concerns.
The Southeast Michigan Urban Deer Coalition, formed more than five years ago to coordinate responses to deer-related issues, expanded its work in 2024 after statewide data showed a need for more localized, region-specific information. The coalition has now launched a new survey in partnership with the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), the first since the last regional deer survey in 2022.
The survey is open through Nov. 1, 2026, and can be completed at cobaltcommunityresearch.org/deer.html.
