Should Columbus reduce its deer population? Survey gauges locals' thoughts 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Do you enjoy seeing deer in your neighborhood, or believe the animals are a nuisance? The City of Columbus wants to know residents' answers to that question and more in a new survey. 

Columbus City Council and the Department of Neighborhoods recently launched an anonymous questionnaire asking residents to share their experiences with white-tailed deer, gauging if people would support the city taking steps to reduce its population. 

The survey asks residents if deer have caused property damage, a car crash or an injury to a person or pet in their household within the past three years. It also asks participants if they believe the city should be responsible for managing its deer population, and if they would support using city dollars for such efforts. 

The form inquires about residents' thoughts on different lethal and nonlethal methods of controlling deer populations. Nonlethal methods mentioned in the survey include relocation, no-feeding ordinances, birth control and sterilization. Lethal methods include trained individuals killing the animals with a firearm or bow. 

Ohio has an estimated 670,000 deer in the state, and Columbus is not the only local city thinking about culling its population. In January, Worthington’s city council voted unanimously to implement a deer management program, which utilizes trained shooters to kill deer and is set to launch in 2026. 

The City of Worthington asserts on its website that deer can cause car accidents and landscape damage. In recent years, the state's deer population has grown due to local ordinances prohibiting hunting, a lack of natural predators and adaptive food habits, according to the municipality. 

Columbus' deer survey was unveiled at a council meeting earlier this month, and is accepting responses until Aug. 22. Residents can weigh in by filling out the form on the city’s website, which takes about five to 10 minutes to complete.