Posted on 12/08/2005 9:01:58 AM PST by InvisibleChurch
Unchecked by predators, deer populations are exploding in a way that is profoundly unnatural and that is destroying the ecosystem in many parts of the country. According to Nicholas D. Kristof of the New York Times, we should bring back hunting and reestablish a balance in the natural world.
In a wilderness area, there might be 10 deer per square mile, but in parts of New Jersey, there are up to 200 per square mile. The exploding deer populations are harming humans, says Kristof:
More Americans are killed by deer each year than by any other large American mammal, including bears, cougars and wolves. A study for the insurance industry estimated that deer kill 150 people a year in car crashes nationwide and cause $1 billion in damages. Ticks and Lyme disease, a more indirect effect from deer, also kill humans. Agreeing on a solution for controlling deer populations and protecting humans has proven difficult. These days, among the university-educated crowd in the cities, hunting is viewed as barbaric. Towns in New York and New Jersey are talking about using birth control to keep deer populations down, although deer contraception has not been very successful. Meanwhile, some towns are paying big bucks, taking out contracts on deer through discreet private companies.
Kristof says this is ridiculous. We have an environmental imbalance caused in part by the decline of hunting, he says. Humans first wiped out certain predators -- like wolves and cougars -- but then expected their own role as predators to sustain a rough ecological balance.
The humane and green solution, says Kristof, is to encourage hunting, and many environmentalists agree. Deer are not pets, and many find hunting them is preferable to letting deer die of hunger and disease. Furthermore, hunting connects people with the outdoors and creates a broader constituency for wilderness preservation.
For text: Nicholas D. Kristof, "For Environmental Balance, Pick Up a Rifle," New York Times, December 4, 2005.
For text (subscription required):
http://select.nytimes.com/2005/12/04/opinion/04kristof.html?hp&oref=login
For more on Environment:
http://eteam.ncpa.org/issues/?c=wildlife-issues
--Central Park needs grizzly bears--
"Towns in New York and New Jersey are talking about using birth control to keep deer populations down, although deer contraception has not been very successful."
Better send them to school to learn how to put the condoms on correctly.
Ummmmm... No comment? ;-P
>>>If they don't bring hunting back to keep the herd in NJ under control, then endemic disease will start to take down the population.
Just in case you missed this thread....FYI...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1536336/posts
Four Activists Arrested (Iranian-American Animal Rights Activist Threatens Hunters)
::laughing!::
I don't get it?
So it is, once again, the pharmaceutical companies looking to monopolize a market?
- he said, hopefully. ;^)
Seriously, I wish you well in your endeavor. A day in the woods, successful or not, beats any outing with the Hole In The Mall Gang.
Give me an address for the kid with the bowl and I'll send him some. I couldn't find Breederville in my Mapquest search, so I went to google earth, still no luck.
Great pix. I love the creativity of the Freepers.
That was Oliver Twist acting on my behalf :)
I can smell that chili from here and I'm in NJ!
Oh yeah, smoked jalapeno/cheese or mild, take your pick ... mmmmm
I'm assuming you're referring to Pessimist's post:
What? You told 2 bucks their hooves were untied? :)
I didn't get it either ...
I've since figured out (or I think I did) that is a picture of a buck strung up for gutting? Right?
And if I'm right, what do I win??? (thoughts of a bowl of chili would be nice!)
:)
A complication is that the deer are in suburban neighborhoods and not in areas where firearms might be used (even shotguns).
Will we see a surge in bowhunting?
Correct, they were hung for cleaning. I had pictures of both of us standing next to our bucks but the harmonic dissonance caused by having a picture of butt ugly me next to one of my good looking son has been known to cause seizures so I didn't post them
Sorry for the confusion
They're looking down at their hooves, see...
It looks like their both looking at their "shoes"... :)
Ok... Never mind...
Oh you are a stinker. If you have good looking children, I'm sure you are just as handsome.
So where is my chili?
:))
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