Deer culling shortsighted
The Knoxville News Sentinel recently published a beautiful picture of a fawn taken in Tellico Village by a resident.
The Tellico Village Property Owners Association board is currently considering a proposal by a small group of Tellico Village residents to kill this fawn along with over 200 other deer because these animals have been eating their plants.
They cite multiple reasons to cull these deer, including:
The spread of Lyme disease to humans. Fact: The Centers for Disease Control reported seven cases of Lyme disease in all of Tennessee in 2014. Deer are not spreading Lyme disease in Tennessee.
A significant long-term destruction of wooded areas. Fact: Significant house construction has destroyed more wooded areas than deer.
Deer are not healthy. Fact: Deer appear to be healthy and have not been tested by a veterinarian.
Frequent deer collisions with cars. Fact: Only a couple of minor collisions have been reported in the past 15 1/2 years that we have lived here, and no signs have been posted stating “Caution deer crossing.”
Deer are damaging the golf course. Fact: The golf director stated that there is no negative financial impact to the golf course.
Deer are eating our plants and bushes. Fact: Deer are eating some plants and bushes, particularly where people live near the wooded areas, but this will not stop unless all deer and rabbits in Tellico Village are killed. Deer eating their plants is their reason to support culling.
Why aren’t Tellico Village residents planting deer-resistant plants? We suggest they get the book, “50 Beautiful Deer Resistant Plants” by Ruth Rogers Clausen. Considering all the great classes being held in Tellico Village, it would seem to make sense to pick up a book rather than a gun or crossbow.
If the TVPOA board and the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency approve the slaughtering of deer here, many of us will be disappointed by their lack of humane judgement.
Alan and Anja Hammersmith
Tellico Village
Editor’s note: When contacted, the POA gave the following response: “A committee of Kahite residents is pursuing permits through TWRA. There are currently no proposals on the POA board docket concerning this subject.”
