STORY BY PEG WEST / PHOTOS BY CORY MORSE AND KENDRA STANLEY-MILLS
On a warm spring night after dark, graduate student Brody Glei slowly guided his pickup — equipped with a temporary flashing light on the roof and Grand Valley Biology Department signs on the doors — through the City of Walker and then into the City of Grand Rapids.
Those in the pickup would periodically stop to shine for deer, part of an extensive data-collection project that is part GVSU's partnership with a Kent County coalition focused on assessing the county's deer population and exploring herd management strategies.
Graduate student, Brody Glei, is working on a deer survey data collection as part of the Kent County Deer Management Coalition project. (Photo by Kendra Stanley-Mills)
Graduate student, Brody Glei, is working on a deer survey data collection as part of the Kent County Deer Management Coalition project. (Photo by Kendra Stanley-Mills)
The first part of the trip revealed a couple of deer. Then, the sightings picked up considerably north of Leonard Street, not far from The Highlands and Blandford Nature Center in neighborhoods with houses spaced fairly close together.
The spotlights showed a quick succession of front yards with deer moseying through, looking curiously at the pickup or relaxing on the ground. At one house, what appeared to be a newborn fawn was curled up in front of a neatly trimmed hedge along a driveway.
And in another yard, Glei noted later, a doe with a large belly lying on the ground at the height of fawning season appeared close to birthing her own offspring.
Ava Sweeney, a biology graduate student, uses a spotlight to conduct the winter deer survey. (Photo by Kendra Stanley-Mills)
Ava Sweeney, a biology graduate student, uses a spotlight to conduct the winter deer survey. (Photo by Kendra Stanley-Mills)
This survey was the third of four the Grand Valley research team is conducting in the county to gather data on the deer population density and behaviors. While a survey during cold weather revealed herds of deer running through residential yards at times, this survey showed deer more dispersed into their summering areas.
Warm or cold, the surveys showed that deer are a persistent presence not just in woods and fields but also residential yards and, all too often, roadways.
What does that mean for humans and the herds? That's where the GVSU faculty and student researchers come in.
The faculty members leading the Grand Valley research team are Ali Locher, professor of natural resources and environmental management, and Rob Larson, affiliate professor in the same program.
The work has a deep community impact. The coalition's efforts have received consistent media coverage and county residents are participating in open houses, surveys and other sessions to more deeply understand how citizens view sharing the populous landscape with deer.
Locher and Larson say those answers are layered and complex and at times, tinged with emotion. That's why they ensured incorporating citizen feedback into the research as experts develop data-driven recommendations.
"Understanding the sensitivity of this topic and how people relate to deer and how they see deer through multiple different lenses is really eye-opening," Locher said. "We're taking an approach to consider all of those different perspectives in this project so that we have layers for decision making."
Locher said this study is an outgrowth of one she led for the City of Kentwood. When Kent County was told about the data from that study, leaders wanted to explore pursuing a countywide study. The Kent County Deer Management Coalition was eventually formed with support from local townships, cities and villages, along with the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Kent County Road Commission and Kent County.
Ali Locher, associate professor of biology, talks during the Deer Management Open House Series at the Kent County North Campus. Representatives from the Kent County Deer Management Coalition were available to answer community questions and talk about the deer study. (Photo by Cory Morse)
Ali Locher, associate professor of biology, talks during the Deer Management Open House Series at the Kent County North Campus. Representatives from the Kent County Deer Management Coalition were available to answer community questions and talk about the deer study. (Photo by Cory Morse)
“Our partnership with Grand Valley State University has been instrumental in advancing a data-driven approach to deer management in Kent County," said Jerry Byrne, managing director of the Kent County Road Commission. "GVSU’s expertise drives the formulation of science-based strategies that are both sustainable and responsive to the unique needs of our communities. Their work has also given students valuable hands-on experience in addressing real-world issues in public safety and resource management.”
According to the coalition, Kent County leads the state in car-deer crashes. In 2023, deer-related incidents made up 26% of all vehicle crashes in the county’s townships.
Given that data, finding effective ways to maintain a balanced and healthy deer population is critical to reducing motorist safety risks and property damage, officials said.
The deer population is flourishing throughout the populous Kent County, in part because development has reduced natural predators, Locher said.
"Deer have evolved as a prey species, so similar to mice, where they have lots of offspring and, in the absence of predators, they do thrive," Locher said.
She noted suburban areas are particularly hospitable to deer. Subdivisions with wood lots between neighborhoods and backyard trampolines providing cover for fawns and landscapes with plentiful food sources provide the cover and nourishment the animals need.
The ultimate goal of this work is education and a change in mindset, said Locher, noting both humans and deer play roles in this issue.
"We want to put all of our minds together to figure out a solution to this and do it better than we've done in the past," Locher said.
The faculty members leading the Grand Valley research team are Ali Locher, professor of natural resources and environmental management, and Rob Larson, affiliate professor in the same program.
The work has a deep community impact. The coalition's efforts have received consistent media coverage and county residents are participating in open houses, surveys and other sessions to more deeply understand how citizens view sharing the populous landscape with deer.
Locher and Larson say those answers are layered and complex and at times, tinged with emotion. That's why they ensured incorporating citizen feedback into the research as experts develop data-driven recommendations.
"Understanding the sensitivity of this topic and how people relate to deer and how they see deer through multiple different lenses is really eye-opening," Locher said. "We're taking an approach to consider all of those different perspectives in this project so that we have layers for decision making."
Locher said this study is an outgrowth of one she led for the City of Kentwood. When Kent County was told about the data from that study, leaders wanted to explore pursuing a countywide study. The Kent County Deer Management Coalition was eventually formed with support from local townships, cities and villages, along with the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Kent County Road Commission and Kent County.
Ali Locher, associate professor of biology, talks during the Deer Management Open House Series at the Kent County North Campus. Representatives from the Kent County Deer Management Coalition were available to answer community questions and talk about the deer study. (Photo by Cory Morse)
Ali Locher, associate professor of biology, talks during the Deer Management Open House Series at the Kent County North Campus. Representatives from the Kent County Deer Management Coalition were available to answer community questions and talk about the deer study. (Photo by Cory Morse)
“Our partnership with Grand Valley State University has been instrumental in advancing a data-driven approach to deer management in Kent County," said Jerry Byrne, managing director of the Kent County Road Commission. "GVSU’s expertise drives the formulation of science-based strategies that are both sustainable and responsive to the unique needs of our communities. Their work has also given students valuable hands-on experience in addressing real-world issues in public safety and resource management.”
According to the coalition, Kent County leads the state in car-deer crashes. In 2023, deer-related incidents made up 26% of all vehicle crashes in the county’s townships.
Given that data, finding effective ways to maintain a balanced and healthy deer population is critical to reducing motorist safety risks and property damage, officials said.
The deer population is flourishing throughout the populous Kent County, in part because development has reduced natural predators, Locher said.
"Deer have evolved as a prey species, so similar to mice, where they have lots of offspring and, in the absence of predators, they do thrive," Locher said.
She noted suburban areas are particularly hospitable to deer. Subdivisions with wood lots between neighborhoods and backyard trampolines providing cover for fawns and landscapes with plentiful food sources provide the cover and nourishment the animals need.
The ultimate goal of this work is education and a change in mindset, said Locher, noting both humans and deer play roles in this issue.
"We want to put all of our minds together to figure out a solution to this and do it better than we've done in the past," Locher said.
“Our partnership with Grand Valley State University has been instrumental in advancing a data-driven approach to deer management in Kent County."
Jerry Byrne, Managing Director of the Kent County Road Commission
Rob Larson, an affiliate professor of natural resources management, talks with Forest Hills Northern High School students, Peyton Schmitt, left, and Abby Slade, as part of the Deer Management Open House Series at the Kent County North Campus. Also pictured are Grand Rapids resident Eric Vander Stel, far left, and Nik Kalejs, far right, who is a wildlife biologist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR.) (Photo by Cory Morse)
Rob Larson, an affiliate professor of natural resources management, talks with Forest Hills Northern High School students, Peyton Schmitt, left, and Abby Slade, as part of the Deer Management Open House Series at the Kent County North Campus. Also pictured are Grand Rapids resident Eric Vander Stel, far left, and Nik Kalejs, far right, who is a wildlife biologist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR.) (Photo by Cory Morse)
The most obvious impact of deer interactions with humans in Kent County is within the motoring public, where collisions with the animals are common and the resulting deer carcasses are prevalent along roadways. This represents a significant safety and economic burden for motorists as well as municipalities and agencies dealing with the aftermath.
But the issue goes beyond that. Some residents might lament deer feasting on hosta in their gardens, while others see white-tailed deer as what Locher described as "their gateway to nature" and enjoy their presence in the yard.
Some residents see hunting or herd reduction as the obvious answer to controlling the numbers. Others are adamantly against those activities.
Capturing those divergent views has been part of the surveys conducted with residents as well as a series of open houses this month in different communities. The open houses allowed the researchers to talk with citizens while also share information with them about some of the statistics regarding the Kent County deer population.
"A huge component of this project is that we need the community to band together," Larson said. "One of the things that Kent County really needs to be commended on is that they're trying to bring this unity for the greater good."
Brody Glei, right, a biology graduate research assistant, talks with Grand Rapids resident Eric Vander Stel as part of the Deer Management Open House Series at the Kent County North Campus. Representatives from the Kent County Deer Management Coalition were available to answer community questions and talk about the deer study. (Photo by Cory Morse)
Brody Glei, right, a biology graduate research assistant, talks with Grand Rapids resident Eric Vander Stel as part of the Deer Management Open House Series at the Kent County North Campus. Representatives from the Kent County Deer Management Coalition were available to answer community questions and talk about the deer study. (Photo by Cory Morse)
At the public open house in Cedar Springs, Larson and Glei represented GVSU, sharing insights on the research conducted so far.
Residents could ask questions about the results and learn the current state of the deer population in Kent County as well as overall opinions of other residents. They were also asked to fill out a survey on how coalition members should move forward with their work.
Attendees ranged from Forest Hills Northern High School students to Eric Vander Stel, a lifelong Kent County resident and retiree from the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.
“The airport had a lot of deer problems for years where they’d get on the runways,” said Vander Stel. “I think this (coalition) is a great idea, because people don't understand: It's an animal and you can't talk to them. They don’t read signs."
Rob Larson, an affiliate professor of natural resources management, talks with Forest Hills Northern High School students, Peyton Schmitt, left, and Abby Slade, as part of the Deer Management Open House Series at the Kent County North Campus. Also pictured are Grand Rapids resident Eric Vander Stel, far left, and Nik Kalejs, far right, who is a wildlife biologist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR.) (Photo by Cory Morse)
Rob Larson, an affiliate professor of natural resources management, talks with Forest Hills Northern High School students, Peyton Schmitt, left, and Abby Slade, as part of the Deer Management Open House Series at the Kent County North Campus. Also pictured are Grand Rapids resident Eric Vander Stel, far left, and Nik Kalejs, far right, who is a wildlife biologist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR.) (Photo by Cory Morse)
The most obvious impact of deer interactions with humans in Kent County is within the motoring public, where collisions with the animals are common and the resulting deer carcasses are prevalent along roadways. This represents a significant safety and economic burden for motorists as well as municipalities and agencies dealing with the aftermath.
But the issue goes beyond that. Some residents might lament deer feasting on hosta in their gardens, while others see white-tailed deer as what Locher described as "their gateway to nature" and enjoy their presence in the yard.
Some residents see hunting or herd reduction as the obvious answer to controlling the numbers. Others are adamantly against those activities.
Capturing those divergent views has been part of the surveys conducted with residents as well as a series of open houses this month in different communities. The open houses allowed the researchers to talk with citizens while also share information with them about some of the statistics regarding the Kent County deer population.
"A huge component of this project is that we need the community to band together," Larson said. "One of the things that Kent County really needs to be commended on is that they're trying to bring this unity for the greater good."
Brody Glei, right, a biology graduate research assistant, talks with Grand Rapids resident Eric Vander Stel as part of the Deer Management Open House Series at the Kent County North Campus. Representatives from the Kent County Deer Management Coalition were available to answer community questions and talk about the deer study. (Photo by Cory Morse)
Brody Glei, right, a biology graduate research assistant, talks with Grand Rapids resident Eric Vander Stel as part of the Deer Management Open House Series at the Kent County North Campus. Representatives from the Kent County Deer Management Coalition were available to answer community questions and talk about the deer study. (Photo by Cory Morse)
At the public open house in Cedar Springs, Larson and Glei represented GVSU, sharing insights on the research conducted so far.
Residents could ask questions about the results and learn the current state of the deer population in Kent County as well as overall opinions of other residents. They were also asked to fill out a survey on how coalition members should move forward with their work.
Attendees ranged from Forest Hills Northern High School students to Eric Vander Stel, a lifelong Kent County resident and retiree from the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.
“The airport had a lot of deer problems for years where they’d get on the runways,” said Vander Stel. “I think this (coalition) is a great idea, because people don't understand: It's an animal and you can't talk to them. They don’t read signs."
Developing multiple data sets is a crucial part of this project, Larson said. Researchers are looking at car-deer crash data and locations where road commission workers are picking up deer carcasses, along with other information.
The work that Glei is doing with the nighttime surveys to collect information to help estimate deer population numbers is another piece of the puzzle.
Glei, a graduate student in the biology program who recently graduated with an undergraduate wildlife biology degree, had worked before with Locher, who advised him and invited Glei to work on this project.
He said he values this opportunity to contribute to impactful research that public officials plan to use to help develop best practices for deer management. He hopes this work will help illuminate ways for Kent County residents wary of car-deer collision damage or ruined landscapes to better coexist with deer.
Brody Glei, a biology graduate research assistant, is working on a deer survey data collection as part of the Kent County Deer Management Coalition project. (Photo by Kendra Stanley-Mills)
Brody Glei, a biology graduate research assistant, is working on a deer survey data collection as part of the Kent County Deer Management Coalition project. (Photo by Kendra Stanley-Mills)
"I really like this project because I get to do something that feels like you're making a difference and you're collecting data that is going to be used," Glei said.
He said he is also able to build connections and help expand his professional network while also deepening his understanding beyond the ecological aspects he has studied to see the economic and social impact of this work.
Locher said they couldn't have done this work without the student researchers.
"The experience is definitely going to help them gain the marketable skills that they're going to need as wildlife professionals or natural resources professionals," said Locher, who said they have also collaborated with students from other disciplines, such as environmental studies, to help examine the human dimensions and are working with sociology researchers as well.
As the researchers analyze their data and move toward recommendations, they are mindful of the ethical considerations and contrary opinions people have about managing the population, Larson said. He said there is no quick fix; a systemic approach is necessary.
The volume of deer who are hit is jarring, Larson said. In 2024, Kent County put approximately 180 tons of deer into the landfill, which equates to more than 4,200 deer.
The animals suffer and the meat is going to waste rather than potentially feeding people, he said. And the trend is going to continue going up without intervention.
"We're not really honoring the deer by hitting them with a car," he said.
Julianna Schrier contributed to this report.
