Look Out For Deer With Ear Tags Coming To A Town Near You

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — Plenty of deer roam Cleveland's eastern suburbs, so the animals are not an uncommon sight to most residents. However, you may see a deer or two with an unusual ear soon.

The city of South Euclid is conducting a deer research and population control project and have tagged the ears of 61 female deer. According to a release from the city, professionals tracked and drugged the deer, humanely rendering them unconscious. The animals were then taken to a surgical site where they were sterilized and given antibiotics and pain relievers.

Once the procedure is complete, deer must be given state-mandated and numbered tags, which are fixed to their ears. The animals are then returned to a location near where they were found and watched until they recover. South Euclid officials estimate the entire operation takes between 90 and 120 minutes per deer.

Deer involved in the program can now be seen in neighboring communities, including Cleveland Heights and Beachwood. If you spot an ear-tagged deer near you, email Geoff Westerfield, with the Ohio Division of Wildlife, with the address of where the deer was spotted. You can also call the Division of Wildlife, at 330-245-3027, to report the deer sighting.