Cull the herd
For 20 years, I began my workday with an early morning drive through the deer herds of Upper St. Clair and Mt. Lebanon.
I eventually hit one that turned back into my path as I stopped. That accident caused little damage to my car, and the deer limped away.
I also have several friends who have debilitating and permanent limitations, similar to multiple sclerosis symptoms, from Lyme disease. For these reasons, I have followed the culling debate in Mt. Lebanon with interest. At this point, debating suburban encroachment on deer environments seems silly in Mt. Lebanon, where much of the housing is over 40 years old. The problem is that suburban landscapes provide more food and shelter than many woodlots do. Contrary to what many people seem to believe, deer density is not higher in mature forests, but in transitional zones near clearings – like corn fields, orchards or suburban yards. That’s why capture and relocation will not work.
Areas with few deer now probably can’t support more. Automobiles and landscaping aside, if I were raising children in Mt. Lebanon, the threat of Lyme disease alone would make me a supporter of culling. Even the most observant parent cannot scan their children and pets every day for deer ticks. Just one missed tick could cause a serious disease which often goes undiagnosed until too late.
Careful culling has been done many other places, and poses very little, if any, risk. The municipal government has spent years now debating the issue and exploring alternatives. It’s time to cull the herd.
Kathleen Smith
Canonsburg