Deer in Urban Landscapes: History, Problems, and Management Approaches

This document summarizes the costs and benefits of various strategies for managing urban white-tailed deer (hereafter “deer”). Deer have reached high densities in many urban and suburban areas, leading to conflicts with people and negative effects on natural habitats and other wildlife. A range of options exists for managing abundant deer in human population centers, but all are costly and need to be continued over the long term to be successful. The most appropriate approach depends on the size of area to be managed, the number of deer living there, the budget, and feasibility and acceptability of lethal measures.