Open Space Should Remain

A Sanctuary

To the Editor:

As a member of the Newtown High School Animal Concerns club and a sophomore at Newtown High School, I recently learned about the proposed plans for deer culling in our community. I understand this might allow deer to be killed by hunters on open space property. There are several reasons why this is not a good idea.

Open space is a sanctuary. You shouldn’t have to fear for your life that you might get shot in a sanctuary. People get shot by hunters more often than you may know. It happens every day. And guns are not the only issue. Some people use bow and arrows. Bowhunters can go close to houses and do not need to abide by buffer zones dictated for firearms (500 feet of buildings occupied by people or domestic animals). There is no such setback ruling for bowhunters. When you think of being in an area where other people are walking around and discharging lethal weapons, would you feel safe?

The main issue that people are concerned about, according to this newspaper, is the increase in deer population and Lyme disease. But the fact that deer are not the main carrier of Lyme disease (mice are and always have been) seems to be overlooked time and time again. Once the deer are gone, the ticks will find other hosts, including pets and children who play outside.

If you’re thinking, “Lyme disease isn’t the only problem, there are too many and hunting is the only way to control the deer population,” then you’re wrong. Hunting will not reduce deer populations in the long run. Think about it, when hunters kill some deer in the herd, the remaining deer benefit from enhanced food supply and begin to produce more babies and at a younger age.

Hunting deer is also not a fair practice. Do you think it’s fair to have an armed man vs a nonaggressive animal like deer? Especially when the hunters bait the deer with food in order to shoot them from a tree stand. It’s not a fair fight. And when the deer is shot with a bow and arrow, the animal doesn’t die right away. If the deer isn’t dead, the hunter has to finish him off with a knife because you’re not allowed to carry a gun and a bow and arrow at the same time. Meanwhile, the deer is suffering, making for an extremely inhumane death.

Pro-hunting people say we’re not “scientific.” They’re saying we’re “emotional.” But the fact is that there are many scientific reports that suggest that killing deer is not an effective strategy for managing Lyme disease. Why aren’t these reports given equal weight in our press and debates? There is more than one side to this story and the opinions of the youth in Newtown matter. We are the future voters. We want to change the community for the better. I am against killing deer and hope our town does not go through with the culling.

 Sincerely,

Sara Hill

10 West Street, Newtown                         December 3, 2008