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Oxford council approves contract with White Buffalo for deer population control
Summary
Oxford City Council authorized a contract with White Buffalo Incorporated for a professional deer population control program, up to 100 deer and a city cost cap of $49,984 plus processing fees; staff will conduct a population survey and seek ODNR permitting before any culling.
Oxford City Council on voice vote approved a resolution authorizing the city to enter into a contract with White Buffalo Incorporated to conduct a professional deer population control program in 2026.
City staff presented the recommendation and said the work follows council direction from the January retreat and a capstone study by Miami University. Jessica, a city staff member, said the program would include a November 2025 deer population survey, development of a local deer management plan and an ODNR Division of Wildlife permit application. She said the contract covers up to 100 deer and the city cost for the contractor is up to $49,984. "The contract with White Buffalo is up to 100 deer," Jessica said. "The cost of this program is up to $49,984." She added there would be an additional city cost of up to $140 per deer for processing harvested animals; processed meat would be donated to a local pantry (referred to in the meeting as TOPS) and residents could arrange processing for deer they wanted to receive themselves.
Council members and staff described prior outreach: a public meeting at Lane Library, engagement with Miami University scientists (identified in the meeting as Dr. Arbuckle's class), and a university capstone review. A councilor who spoke in support said the contractor had "very professional" representatives at the public meeting and that the approach was the "best solution" identified after research and public discussion. Another councilor noted concerns about biodiversity impacts, vehicle collisions and tick-borne disease; Miami University scientists had presented on forest biodiversity loss from deer overbrowsing, the councilor said.
Staff emphasized procedural next steps. The November survey will inform a target deer density and how many animals would be removed to reach that objective. After the survey staff will submit a deer management plan and a permit application to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife; White Buffalo will assist with permitting and program design. The resolution authorizes contracting with White Buffalo to schedule work in 2026 and to begin preliminary site visits this fall to identify safe locations for operations.
The council debate noted the program is intended to supplement — not replace — the city's existing local hunting program and other measures. Several council members thanked staff and community participants for the outreach and called the contractor's representative (referred to in the meeting as "Dane") professional in answering public questions.
The council adopted the resolution by voice vote. The mayor declared the resolution adopted.
Community members who want their property considered for the program were directed to the city's deer management page; staff said interested residents can volunteer land or request harvested deer, with processing costs handled as described above.
Why it matters: City officials said deer density has risen in Oxford and that professional population control is recommended in suburban settings where natural predators are absent and recreational hunting alone has not achieved desired reductions. The measure starts the permitting and survey steps needed before any removals.
