Our Story

The Clifton Deer Program was formed by a group of Cincinnati residents for the purpose of
promoting humane methods of deer population management and the ecological health of our
parks and communities. Our approach, premised on the belief that we do not have to choose
between compassion and an effective solution – we can have both – has allowed us to navigate
the turbulent social and political waters of deer management to create what to our knowledge
is the longest running community led fertility control research study in the nation.

Cincinnati Parks Present Bow Hunting Plan to Clifton Community

Future founders of CliftonDeer.org attended the presentation and asked for a one year moratorium on the bow hunting program to allow non-lethal alternatives to be considered.

The Parks representative said that wasn't possible and that bow hunting would begin on September 27th.

August 4, 2014

As Protests Roil Clifton, Clifton Deer Founders Research Nonlethal Alternatives and Engage in Respectful Dialogue with Officials

Although appreciative of the passion and good intentions of the protesters and initially willing to participate, the future founders of CliftonDeer.org quickly became convinced that the only hope for protecting Clifton's deer herd was to find a science-based alternative to lethal culling that would produce demonstrable results and to respectfully engage with Park representatives. As such, they spent their time doing extensive research on contraceptives and sterilization, talking with experts around the nation, and maintaining an open and respectful dialogue with the Cincinnati Parks and other City officials.

August-September 2014

Park Board Directs Staff to Temporarily Suspend Bow Hunting, Seek Community Feedback

September 18, 2014

Cincinnati City Council Committee Meeting Hears Community Testimony

Future founders of CliftonDeer.org and other community members presented testimony before the Human Services Committee of the Cincinnati City Counsel on fertility control options to lethal culling. Parks Director Willie Carden attended and xxx .

October 6, 2014

Cincinnati Parks Makes 2nd Presentation to Clifton Community, Receives Community Comments

Many people, from hunters to animal welfare advocates to residents who just wanted the deer problem solved and didn't care how it happened, participated in the meeting. Several future CliftonDeer.org founders attended the meeting and expressed their view that humane alternatives to lethal culling should be explored and made clear that in their view, the Cincinnati Parks were not the enemy.

October 6, 2014

Cincinnati Enquirer Publishes Interview with Future Founders of CliftonDeer.org

Cincinnati Parks Board Votes to Suspend Bow Hunting in Clifton Parks, Give Community 9 Months to Develop and Obtain Approval for Viable Non Lethal Plan

The resolution adopted by the Park Board made clear that if a viable non-lethal pilot program was not developed and approved by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Division of Wildlife (ODNR) by June 15, 2015, the Park Board’s deer culling program may be reinstituted in the Clifton
Parks.

Parks Director Willie Carden initiated the collaboration by appointing Superintendent Jim Burkhardt as the Parks’ liaison to meet with those citizens who appeared or were represented at the October 16, 2014 Park Board meeting in opposition to the bow-hunting program. The criteria offered to guide the
collaboration were developed with Superintendent Burkhardt, as follows:

The non-lethal pilot program
selected should be the one with the greatest likelihood of being (a) affordable (funded or fundable); (b) approved by ODNR; and (c) successful in stabilizing and reducing the deer population in the Clifton Parks to eco-sustainable levels.

Additionally, the Park Board staff has requested that any plan address the following elements:

A step by step process, including staffing and reporting procedures
Peer reviewed research support
A budget with documented funding resources
All required federal, state, county, and city permits
Documentable results

October 16, 2014

Cincinnati Parks Liaison Meets with Interested Parties to Begin Collaboration

The interested parties included the future founders of CliftonDeer.org and individuals who had led the public protests against bow hunting, including individuals who did not reside in Clifton.