Why Pay For

A Futile Effort?

To the Editor:

We want to express our strong opposition to deer culls in our town. After attending a meeting of the Tick-Borne Disease Action Committee (TBDAC) in January, we are even more convinced that this inhumane response to tick borne illness is also an ineffective, unachievable approach — and a huge waste of time, effort, and taxpayer dollars. Especially during the current economic challenges facing Newtown, we cannot afford to throw money at a problem with no proven results.

At that meeting, Anthony DeNicola, president of a company that baits and shoots deer for municipalities, admitted that reducing the deer population to a level that would noticeably reduce tick-borne disease in Newtown is actually impossible. He explained that a deer management program in our town would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and would need to be repeated year after year. Amazingly, he admitted that it would be impossible to reduce the deer population in Newtown from 70 to 10 deer per square mile, the level at which some reduction in tick-borne disease could possibly be achieved.

So why is the town considering entering into a costly deer cull if the experts themselves admit that it is futile?

There is a solution to the tick–borne illness problem — and that is personal responsibility. Mr DeNicola stated at the TBDAC meeting that after 20 years of being around deer constantly, he has never contracted a tick borne disease — purely due to preventative tactics. Each of us should be responsible for our family’s education and prevention — that is an achievable, inexpensive, and scientifically proven solution. Learn more and sign the petition at WildlifeEducationCoalition.org

Sincerely,

Julia S. Nable

Zoltan A. Csillag

10 Walnut Tree Hill Road, Sandy Hook                    March 30, 2010