An Ann Arbor deer that had been sterilized nine days earlier by city efforts was euthanized.
According to the city’s website, the deer was found Friday morning in a state of pain and distress. It was then reported to Anthony DeNicola, the president of White Buffalo Inc. — the nonprofit in charge of its sterilization. Though the surgical incision did not appear infected, DeNicola decided the “humane course of action” was to euthanize the deer.
It was then transported to the Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health at Michigan State University. An autopsy is set to be released on the city’s website.
The sterilization process — in which the ovaries of 54 deer were surgically removed — took place Jan. 25, as part of the city’s plan to eliminate 100 deer from the area. After the procedure, the does were set free but tagged for identification and analysis purposes. The effort was brought forth in response to groups that were worried about the city’s deer cull proposed in fall 2015.
Concerns about the cull were safety-related and moral in nature, though it ultimately passed City Council, 8-1, and was approved by most city residents. The city reduced the number of parks in which deer were to be shot and shortened the culling period to just two weeks; it was originally going to take place over two months.