All over the United States, as suburban construction booms, wild animals are being forced out of their natural habitats. Animals that might normally steer clear of human contact are now found in increasing numbers in suburban areas. When the needs of animals conflict with human social values, the result can be controversy, community division, and in the worst case, mass slaughter of vulnerable animals.
Recently such an issue came up in Ithaca, NY, the home base of Tribe of Heart. Co-founder Jenny Stein wrote the following letter to support the efforts of a local group of concerned citizens advocating for the adoption of a non-lethal method of deer population control. It was published in the local paper as part of a full page advertisement briefing the public on the issue.
An Open Letter to the People of Ithaca
written by Jenny Stein on behalf of Cayuga Heights Residents for Humane Deer Management
We ask you to carefully examine the options for deer "management" in Cayuga Heights being presented at this Wednesday’s meeting at Dewitt School (7:30 PM). Though a private funder has offered to pay all the costs of a long-term, humane solution, there are people and interests both within and outside of Cayuga Heights who are strongly advocating for a bait and slaughter operation. Decisions made this year have wide implications for our community and will set the precedent for how the deer will be treated long into the future.
It seems that many of those who want the deer killed are upset about the damage being done to their shrubs and gardens. It undoubtedly takes patience to grow beautiful ornamental plants in this land of harsh winters and short summers. It can be infuriating to see months or even years of hard work destroyed in just moments while satisfying the hungry appetites of deer. But it’s important to remember that for the deer, what hangs in the balance is not a rose bush or tulip bed, but life itself, along with their very right to exist on ever smaller patches of wooded land.
As we see it, mother nature is indiscriminate in her understanding of abundance, and unconditional in her love for all that grace the earth. Hence, abundant gardens go hand in hand with abundant wildlife, and each bring their own joys to those who wish to partake in the wonders of the natural world.
Sadly, not every living thing is welcome in the landscaped environments people have created. Unwanted plants are called "weeds." and likewise, unwanted animals are called "pests." Once an unfortunate creature is deemed a "pest," thoughts of extermination are entertained. The deer ceases to exist in people’s minds as a gentle, warm-blooded being who is nurtured by her mother, takes joy in running through the woods, has a personality as individual as one’s dog or cat, experiences fear at the sound of gun shots, and suffers greatly when her flesh is ripped open by bullets or arrows. None of this seems to matter when, ironically, she is viewed as an obstacle to our enjoyment of nature.
Declaring war on the deer and implementing a mass execution will initially reduce their numbers, but scientific studies show that the surviving deer have reduced competition for food and mates, which translates into higher reproductive rates the following spring. This means the population will not stabilize at a lower level, and the bait and slaughter operation will not just be performed once, but will bring sharp shooters and spilled blood into our community for many years to come.
We must remember in all of this that there are impressionable young people who are watching how we solve our problems. If we as a community conclude that the way to deal with life that we don’t like is to snuff it out, if we find it acceptable to destroy those who irritate us or get in the way of our enjoyment, that message will be heard loud and clear by our children.
However, if we approach this challenge before us with care and compassion, and if we decide to work with the resources we have on hand — scientific techniques of non-lethal deer population control, a generous offer for private long-term funding, creative use of fencing, netting, repellents and plantings that are unpalatable to deer — our children will get a different message about how to relate to those with whom we experience conflict. Stabilizing the deer population through humane means will take time and patience, and it may take a couple seasons for the results to be felt, but they will be lasting results achieved without violence.
Unlike the deer, we have a choice in this matter, along with the wisdom to know that what we sow, we shall reap.
Over 200 people attended a community meeting following the public education campaign conducted by the Cayuga Heights Residents for Humane Deer Management. Of the 20 community members who spoke at this meeting, 19 expressed support for a humane approach to the perceived human-deer conflict. Village officials evaluated various proposals for long-term deer population reduction, and ended up choosing a non-lethal solution based on surgical sterilization.
Copyright © 2001 Tribe of Heart Ltd. All rights reserved.
-XX-
"for the deer, what hangs in the balance is not a rose bush or tulip bed, but life itself, along with their very right to exist on ever smaller patches of wooded land."
"Once an unfortunate creature is deemed a 'pest,' thoughts of extermination are entertained. The deer ceases to exist in people’s minds as a gentle, warm-blooded being..."
All over the United States, as suburban construction booms, wild animals are being forced out of their natural habitats. Animals that might normally steer clear of human contact are now found in increasing numbers in suburban areas. When the needs of animals conflict with human social values, the result can be controversy, community division, and in the worst case, mass slaughter of vulnerable animals.
Recently such an issue came up in Ithaca, NY, the home base of Tribe of Heart. Co-founder Jenny Stein wrote the following letter to support the efforts of a local group of concerned citizens advocating for the adoption of a non-lethal method of deer population control. It was published in the local paper as part of a full page advertisement briefing the public on the issue.
An Open Letter to the People of Ithaca
written by Jenny Stein on behalf of Cayuga Heights Residents for Humane Deer Management
We ask you to carefully examine the options for deer "management" in Cayuga Heights being presented at this Wednesday’s meeting at Dewitt School (7:30 PM). Though a private funder has offered to pay all the costs of a long-term, humane solution, there are people and interests both within and outside of Cayuga Heights who are strongly advocating for a bait and slaughter operation. Decisions made this year have wide implications for our community and will set the precedent for how the deer will be treated long into the future.
It seems that many of those who want the deer killed are upset about the damage being done to their shrubs and gardens. It undoubtedly takes patience to grow beautiful ornamental plants in this land of harsh winters and short summers. It can be infuriating to see months or even years of hard work destroyed in just moments while satisfying the hungry appetites of deer. But it’s important to remember that for the deer, what hangs in the balance is not a rose bush or tulip bed, but life itself, along with their very right to exist on ever smaller patches of wooded land.
As we see it, mother nature is indiscriminate in her understanding of abundance, and unconditional in her love for all that grace the earth. Hence, abundant gardens go hand in hand with abundant wildlife, and each bring their own joys to those who wish to partake in the wonders of the natural world.
Sadly, not every living thing is welcome in the landscaped environments people have created. Unwanted plants are called "weeds." and likewise, unwanted animals are called "pests." Once an unfortunate creature is deemed a "pest," thoughts of extermination are entertained. The deer ceases to exist in people’s minds as a gentle, warm-blooded being who is nurtured by her mother, takes joy in running through the woods, has a personality as individual as one’s dog or cat, experiences fear at the sound of gun shots, and suffers greatly when her flesh is ripped open by bullets or arrows. None of this seems to matter when, ironically, she is viewed as an obstacle to our enjoyment of nature.
Declaring war on the deer and implementing a mass execution will initially reduce their numbers, but scientific studies show that the surviving deer have reduced competition for food and mates, which translates into higher reproductive rates the following spring. This means the population will not stabilize at a lower level, and the bait and slaughter operation will not just be performed once, but will bring sharp shooters and spilled blood into our community for many years to come.
We must remember in all of this that there are impressionable young people who are watching how we solve our problems. If we as a community conclude that the way to deal with life that we don’t like is to snuff it out, if we find it acceptable to destroy those who irritate us or get in the way of our enjoyment, that message will be heard loud and clear by our children.
However, if we approach this challenge before us with care and compassion, and if we decide to work with the resources we have on hand — scientific techniques of non-lethal deer population control, a generous offer for private long-term funding, creative use of fencing, netting, repellents and plantings that are unpalatable to deer — our children will get a different message about how to relate to those with whom we experience conflict. Stabilizing the deer population through humane means will take time and patience, and it may take a couple seasons for the results to be felt, but they will be lasting results achieved without violence.
Unlike the deer, we have a choice in this matter, along with the wisdom to know that what we sow, we shall reap.
Over 200 people attended a community meeting following the public education campaign conducted by the Cayuga Heights Residents for Humane Deer Management. Of the 20 community members who spoke at this meeting, 19 expressed support for a humane approach to the perceived human-deer conflict. Village officials evaluated various proposals for long-term deer population reduction, and ended up choosing a non-lethal solution based on surgical sterilization.
Copyright © 2001 Tribe of Heart Ltd. All rights reserved.
-XX-
"for the deer, what hangs in the balance is not a rose bush or tulip bed, but life itself, along with their very right to exist on ever smaller patches of wooded land."
"Once an unfortunate creature is deemed a 'pest,' thoughts of extermination are entertained. The deer ceases to exist in people’s minds as a gentle, warm-blooded being..."