Presentation to Board of Trustees
Recently the Township asked for feedback from residents regarding the deer population. We asked residents to share their experiences with deer/vehicle collisions, property damage, tick borne illnesses, aggressive deer and more.
The Deer Committee and DNR presented to the Board of Trustees on Monday, September 14, 2026. The replay of the meeting is available here.
New Regional Deer Management Study
The Southeastern Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) is now collecting input on this important community issue through November 1, 2026. Click the button below if you would like to participate in their study.
Updates from DNR
Chad Stewart, from the Department of Natural Resources Cervid and Wildlife Interactions Unit, presented at the September 8, 2025 Board of Trustees meeting. He presented several options for managing and controlling deer populations.
Additional resources provided by the DNR include:
State of Michigan Feeding Definitions
Updates from Advisory Committee
Mission Statement
The mission of the Bloomfield Township Deer Management Advisory Committee is to assess the status of the township's deer population and its impact on residents, property, and the environment and the deer. The Advisory Committee is committed to providing Bloomfield Township leaders, along with Township staff, strategic guidance by working collaboratively with local stakeholders, including residents, conservation experts, and law enforcement, to help create and evaluate effectiveness and adjust strategies as needed. Our principal goal is to ensure a safe, healthy, and sustainable balance between Bloomfield Township's residents, motorists, natural environment, and deer population. Through science-based population management, community education, and habitat preservation, the Committee seeks to reduce deer-vehicle collisions, minimize property and landscape damage, and study the effect of local deer on health of humans, their pets, and the deer population.
On October 29, 2025, the committee discussed how they will proceed in looking at the issue.
On November 12, 2025, Lt. Nick Soley presented information on police calls regarding deer.
Farmington Hills Deer Management Presentation.
Police Data
The Police Department has collected data on call related to deer activity which can be reviewed in the 2025 Annual Deer Report.
Planting and Landscaping Deterrents
No plant is "deer proof," but many options exist that typically deter deer. Michigan State University has a resource guide for homeowners.
Bow hunting is legal in Bloomfield Township with a hunting license from October 1- January 31 each year. Firearm hunting is banned. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) have primary, statewide authority over game regulations. Townships can only regulate firearm discharge and create local rules for safety, but cannot ban hunting.
Updated Wildlife Feeding Guidance
Bloomfield Township is issuing updated guidance following recent changes to Michigan’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. The new statewide regulations establish uniform rules governing the feeding of wildlife, including deer, and are now in effect.
Previously, the Bloomfield Township Police Department enforced the State law prohibiting the feeding of deer to support public safety, protect natural habitats, and reduce potential conflicts between wildlife and residents. Under the updated State regulations, certain types of wildlife feeding are now permitted statewide, and the same rules apply consistently across Michigan communities.
Effective immediately, residents may feed wildlife, including deer, provided they comply with all applicable State requirements. The Township will no longer issue warnings or citations under the previous State feeding prohibition.
Allowable Under State Law
- Up to two gallons of wildlife feed within 300 feet of a residence
- Small amounts of seed or feed placed near the home
- Elevated feeders and limited seasonal backyard feeding
- Feeding practices consistent with applicable U.S. Department of Agriculture guidance intended to reduce the risk of disease transmission
Prohibited Under State Law
- Using feed as bait for hunting
- Placing quantities of feed that exceed the applicable two-gallon limit
The Township is committed to helping residents understand how the updated State law affects wildlife feeding in Bloomfield Township. While the State now permits certain types of wildlife feeding, the Township strongly encourages residents to exercise caution and consider the potential impacts of feeding wildlife.
Feeding wildlife can contribute to the spread of disease, alter natural wildlife behavior, attract animals to residential areas, and create safety concerns for residents, motorists, pets, and other wildlife.
There are considerable reasons to avoid feeding deer, including attracting other undesirable wildlife and predators.
Call the Police Department non-emergency line at 248-433-7755. Animal Welfare Officers will come out and address the situation.
If you see a fawn alone, please leave it alone. A mother deer often leaves her fawn alone for hours as a survival tactic, making the fawn appear abandoned to predators. Fawns have little scent and are camouflaged by their spots. Does stay away to avoid leading danger to offspring, often only returning to nurse usually at dawn and dusk.
Contact the Bloomfield Township Police Department non-emergency line at 248-433-7755. An Animal Welfare Officer will attempt to collect and dispose of the deer.
Contact the Bloomfield Township Police Department non-emergency line at 248-433-7755. An Animal Welfare Officer will collect and dispose of the deer.
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