Muzi (Chelsea) Yang is a master’s student in the School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) at the University of Michigan, where she specializes in Sustainability and Development, Ecosystem Science and Management, and Geospatial Data Science. As part of a Conservation and Restoration themed capstone project, Chelsea is working with partners in southeast Michigan to create a sustainable urban deer management program. Previously, she contributed to The Nature Conservancy’s Water Fund Project in China, conducting wetland vegetation surveys, invasive species research, and leading community engagement initiatives such as a conservation-themed summer camp for high school students. After graduation, Chelsea plans to work with conservation-focused NGOs to advance ecosystem restoration and sustainable development initiatives.

TSN Conference 2026

January 22nd, 2026 (Thursday) // 1:45 pm – 2:10 pm // Room 105 // The Deer Dilemma: Methods of Managing Urban Deer in Southeast Michigan // Managing the impacts of overabundant urban deer populations has become a priority for many municipal governments and land management organizations in Southeast Michigan. This project served to advance current and future urban deer management by producing a standardized guide for new programs and providing technical support for the implementation of the first regional deer management program in Farmington Hills, Farmington, and Southfield. Three pillars of urban deer management were used as a framework for the project: ecological, social, and program development. Project elements included conducting interviews with city employees and land managers, providing recommendations for ecological monitoring programs, and developing a variety of materials to support deer management programs in Southeast Michigan. Moving forward, we offer recommendations for municipalities interested in implementing urban deer management programs.