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Grant · 11-08-2004, 09:36 AM

You want to see a deer problem? Come on down to PA, and I'll show you. We have the worst deer issues in the nation -- bar none. I see a minimum of eight to ten deer a day during my commute through suburban Philadelphia -- and often upwards of 20 or more -- ALL DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO ROADS. Down here, they are as common as squirrels, and HUNDREDS live within the city limits of Philadelphia. And now that we are at the peak of the annual rut, they are hormone-charged, and even more oblivious than usual to the dangers posed by roads.

The problem is entirely man-made, and solutions are man-inhibited. Suburban sprawl has cornered the deer populations in small and small patches of woods and into the larger state parks. With the changing demographics in the townships comes the inevitable changes in hunting regulations (people in McMansions don't want hunters killing Bambi in their back yards, but they also don't want Bambi and his 300 relatives munchin on their ornamental shrubs, either!).

We've had a problem in Fairmount Park down here for years. Finally, after much hand-wringing and legal wrangling, the decision was made to stage a "controlled hunt," in which marksmen were hired to thin the herd (which was estimated to be MANY times larger than the park could sustain). Of course, the PETA crowd shows up, and attempts to thwart the hunt. They do it everywhere around here. Idiots -- they'd rather see the deer get picked off by SUVs or starve due to lack of vegetation.

We also have a HUGE deer tick problem down here (and, hence, a lyme disease problem as well). Found one in my truck the other day after running my dog in the park (another park LOADED with white tails -- I think we saw ten to twelve on our 3-mile run).

Historic Valley Forge park, about a half hour from here, has herds that are beyond description. You can drive through the park at rush hour and see -- no kidding -- hundreds of grazing deer. Groups of 20-30-40-50 EVERYWHERE...every day. And there is NO WAY to control the population. Can't hunt them...can't relocate them. Unreal.

And don't get me started on our Canada Goose problem. Let's just say that if you ever seen one in Winnipesaukee, chase it off, scare it, whatever. I would say "kill the damn thing immediately," but that would not be PC. Nearly all of our local lakes and reservoirs down here in SE PA have been rendered un-swimmable by goose dookie. They thrive on business campuses, golf courses, parks, farms -- everywhere! Again, they are ubiquitous and prolific -- reproducing at alarming rates, and there is no "legal" way to control them.

Sorry for the long rant.

11-08-2004, 09:36 AM	#12
Grant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pennsyltuckey, Tuftonboro, Moultonborough Posts: 1,500 Thanks: 375 Thanked 230 Times in 124 Posts	Wildlife Issues You want to see a deer problem? Come on down to PA, and I'll show you. We have the worst deer issues in the nation -- bar none. I see a minimum of eight to ten deer a day during my commute through suburban Philadelphia -- and often upwards of 20 or more -- ALL DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO ROADS. Down here, they are as common as squirrels, and HUNDREDS live within the city limits of Philadelphia. And now that we are at the peak of the annual rut, they are hormone-charged, and even more oblivious than usual to the dangers posed by roads. The problem is entirely man-made, and solutions are man-inhibited. Suburban sprawl has cornered the deer populations in small and small patches of woods and into the larger state parks. With the changing demographics in the townships comes the inevitable changes in hunting regulations (people in McMansions don't want hunters killing Bambi in their back yards, but they also don't want Bambi and his 300 relatives munchin on their ornamental shrubs, either!). We've had a problem in Fairmount Park down here for years. Finally, after much hand-wringing and legal wrangling, the decision was made to stage a "controlled hunt," in which marksmen were hired to thin the herd (which was estimated to be MANY times larger than the park could sustain). Of course, the PETA crowd shows up, and attempts to thwart the hunt. They do it everywhere around here. Idiots -- they'd rather see the deer get picked off by SUVs or starve due to lack of vegetation. We also have a HUGE deer tick problem down here (and, hence, a lyme disease problem as well). Found one in my truck the other day after running my dog in the park (another park LOADED with white tails -- I think we saw ten to twelve on our 3-mile run). Historic Valley Forge park, about a half hour from here, has herds that are beyond description. You can drive through the park at rush hour and see -- no kidding -- hundreds of grazing deer. Groups of 20-30-40-50 EVERYWHERE...every day. And there is NO WAY to control the population. Can't hunt them...can't relocate them. Unreal. And don't get me started on our Canada Goose problem. Let's just say that if you ever seen one in Winnipesaukee, chase it off, scare it, whatever. I would say "kill the damn thing immediately," but that would not be PC. Nearly all of our local lakes and reservoirs down here in SE PA have been rendered un-swimmable by goose dookie. They thrive on business campuses, golf courses, parks, farms -- everywhere! Again, they are ubiquitous and prolific -- reproducing at alarming rates, and there is no "legal" way to control them. Sorry for the long rant.