The Village of River Forest has received an increased number of complaints regarding deer throughout River Forest. These complaints have included concerns and incidents with deer-vehicle collisions, damage to private property, and diseases. The Village of River Forest takes all complaints seriously, especially those that present a risk to public safety and threaten quality of life.
In response to these complaints, the Village has partnered with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Cook County Forest Preserve to learn more about deer and form a plan to address resident concerns. The Village President and Board of Trustees held a community meeting on June 24, 2019 with an IDNR representative to provide education on the issues and answer residents' questions. Click here for information from that meeting.
Based on the concerns of residents and the information provided by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Cook County Forest Preserve, the Village decided to explore a Deer Population Control Permit in partnership from the Cook County Forest Preserve from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
The following Frequently Asked Questions guide is intended to serve as a knowledge base for those wanting to learn more about deer, deer management programs, and how they impact River Forest.
Village of River Forest Deer Frequently Asked Questions