Michigan City Planning To Kill 20 Inbred Deer In City Park

If you live in Michigan, you can't avoid deer. Whether you're a hunter purposefully looking for the animal, or you're trying to avoid the creature when it unexpectedly leaps in front of your car during the winter. But as much trouble as these animals can be, there's no denying there's a cuteness to them, acting as an inspiration for an old amusement park and a pillar of the Iron Mountain City Park.

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For the last 75 years, the Iron Mountain City Park has had a deer pen at the center of the park. The problem is, this deer population is entirely based on inbreeding, making these deer a genetic hazard to have in the wild. As of July, there are 20 deer living in the pen.

This on its own is worrisome, but a vet has stated the deer are all in good health. Despite this, the city has voted to kill all 20 deer as it cannot afford to upgrade and maintain the facility any longer.

Iron Mountain City Park's Deer Problem

According to reporting by the Upper Michigan Source, a assessment of the pen by the USDA has shown the facility is not up to code, creating a saga that has been ongoing since June of last year. To get the pen up to code, it would need renovations to provide proper shelter for the deer, a new source of water, and a veteranian to look at the deer.

READ MORE: Deer Baiting Could Return in Lower Michigan

Surprisingly, the city found a vet and developed a plan for rennovations that would get the pen up to code, but sadly it would just be too expensive for the city to fund and continue funding each year, leading to the city council killing the pen (and the deer inside).

Like any animal raised in captivity, they do not develop the skills needed to survive in the wild. Even if the deer weren't inbred, they would most likely need to be put down.

The entire situation is sad, given that many people have grown up with this in the park. Below you can get an idea of the living conditions of the deer. No date has been given as to when the deer will be put down.