Guest guest Posted January 5, 2008 Report Share Posted January 5, 2008 _http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2008/01/05/opinion/308739.txt_ (http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2008/01/05/opinion/308739.txt) Cull vs. contraception Advocates of widespread culling of deer in Connecticut say their approach would mean less Lyme disease. Deer do contribute to the spread of Lyme by carrying and sustaining the ticks that transmit the disease to humans and pets, though the major carriers apparently are rodents. Lyme disease is cured easily when detected early but has potential to become debilitating if left untreated. Connecticut really won't get the measure of deer's involvement in this mini-plague — with 1,788 cases statewide last year — until it culls the state's herd, estimated at 150,000. Lyme is just one motivator for intensive culling. Overpopulation exacts a high penalty in terms of car-deer crashes: Nationally, insurance companies pay more than $1 billion a year in claims for accidents involving deer and other large animals. Deer also cause property damage by feeding on shrubs and crops, and they destroy habitat for many forest animals, including some species of birds and their prey. Neurologist Georgina Scholl of Redding, a founder of the Connecticut Coalition to Eradicate Lyme Disease, says " returning deer numbers of natural levels of 10 or fewer deer per square mile " would eradicate the illness. Today, there are as many as 20 deer per square mile in Litchfield County, and as many as 60 in Fairfield County. Ideally, culling to optimal population levels could be accomplished over a few years by means of contraception. But there is no effective means of imposing birth control on large, fast, elusive wild animals. Those inclined to oppose blunter methods, including intensive hunting in infested areas, should keep in mind that we are stewards of the forests that are being damaged by deer and, furthermore, we have an obligation to take reasonable steps to protect ourselves and our neighbors from car crashes, property damage and disease. ____________________________________ **************Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape. http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.