After years of rising complaints and close calls, the City of Worthington is preparing to launch a targeted deer removal program beginning this month, following a unanimous City Council vote in 2025.
City officials say the goal isn’t to eliminate deer, but to reduce a population that has grown well beyond what the community can safely support.
Why the City Says Action Is Necessary
According to surveys conducted in 2024, nearly 92% of Worthington residents report seeing deer daily or weekly, and 71% want to see the population reduced. Deer–vehicle collisions and property damage topped the list of concerns, with residents reporting almost $1.5 million in property-related costs over a three-year period, along with more than $200,000 in injury and veterinary expenses.
Those findings came after City Council created a Deer Task Force in late 2023 to study the issue, review how other communities handle overpopulation, and gauge public opinion. The Task Force’s final report, released in December 2024, recommended targeted removal as a first step — a recommendation Council formally adopted in January.
What “Targeted Removal” Looks Like in Practice
Unlike traditional hunting seasons or volunteer-based programs, Worthington’s approach will rely on professional wildlife specialists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service – Wildlife Services (APHIS-WS).
Operations will:
- Take place after dark, when parks are closed and public activity is minimal
- Occur on pre-approved private and public properties that have been individually evaluated for safety
- Be carried out by highly trained markspeople using suppressors and specialized ammunition designed to disintegrate on impact
- Involve elevated platforms or natural backstops to control bullet trajectory
- Include Worthington Police officers, spotters, and drone monitoring for additional safety
City officials stress that public safety is the program’s top priority, and that the removal process is tightly controlled from planning through execution.
When and Where It Will Happen
Removal operations are scheduled for January and February, with the possibility of extending into March if necessary.
Operations will happen on weeknights after dark, depending on deer activity, weather, and staffing availability. Not every approved site will be used each night.
Publicly owned locations that may be included range from East Granville Park and Olentangy Parklands to Walnut Grove Cemetery and athletic fields near Thomas Worthington High School. Private property owners were also able to volunteer their land, and neighbors within 200 feet of approved sites will receive mailed notifications.
Exact dates and addresses won’t be publicly released, a decision the City says is meant to protect both operational security and homeowner privacy.
What Happens to the Deer
One detail that’s drawn widespread support: all processed venison will be donated to local food pantries, including the Worthington Resource Pantry.
Many residents have asked why Worthington isn’t using relocation, sterilization, or birth control instead.
Under Ohio Department of Natural Resources regulations, relocating deer is illegal. Sterilization and pharmaceutical birth control are not authorized outside of research settings, are costly, and tend to be ineffective in open herds where deer move freely in and out of city limits.
City officials say they’ll continue working with ODNR on future options, but for now, targeted removal is the only method that’s legal, effective, and scalable.
What Comes Next
This first removal effort is meant to reduce the population, not permanently solve the problem overnight. Worthington expects to conduct annual removals moving forward to maintain healthier deer numbers.
A newly formed Deer Advisory Committee will track data like collision reports, property damage complaints, and resident feedback to measure whether the program is meeting its goals.
Longer-term, the City may consider adding a volunteer archery hunting program, though Council hasn’t taken action on that yet.
The Bottom Line
For a city known for walkable neighborhoods and green spaces, Worthington’s deer dilemma has been years in the making. With strong survey support and a unanimous Council vote, officials believe targeted removal is the most responsible next step.
Whether the program ultimately reduces collisions, property damage, and human–deer conflicts is something residents will be watching closely when operations begin early next year.
For more info, head over to worthington.org.
