Aug 28, 2015 2 min read

A deer crashed through a glass patio door in my neighborhood years ago and neighbors warned me to never have the door uncovered as I might wish. It makes me feel closed in. A large deer was on my concrete front porch eating my tiny vegetable garden, so I can’t grow vegetables here, which I planned on doing when I bought the house.

Groups of deer sleep on my property at night, so I can’t feel that I can ever go outside to see the stars, even for a short time. Deer droppings in my lawn threaten my indoor carpeting if I allow children to run freely outside. No, they must experience somewhat of a prison feel also. Fresh vegetables are no longer here for them. Watching a meteor shower and learning science is no longer suggested here.

Deer traipse through my property at any time of the day or night, nibbling while standing next to the expensive deer stakes advertised to scare them away. Don’t suggest repellents to me – after years of expenditures I could ill afford.

I have almost hit them while driving my car. My blind neighbor was afraid to go outside. Calling police or council has been found futile. Before she died, the blind girl’s mother said about those who could really make a change: “If these people ever had to suffer what we are suffering, believe me, it would all be changed the very next day – the very next day!”

Ann Slowey

Bethel Park