Killing Deer To Combat Lyme

Doesn’t Make Sense

To the Editor:

The fate of Newtown’s deer will soon be decided by the Tick-Borne Disease Action Committee. Some think that killing deer will lower the risk of getting Lyme disease even though that idea has not been proven. The town would have to hire a company to kill the deer. I am opposed to having my tax dollars used for a program that implements such a drastic measure when there is no evidence that killing deer will make any difference in the incidents of Lyme.

Towns are under pressure to address the Lyme issue and killing deer makes it appear that they are “doing something” about it.

However, it is important to know that deer don’t carry or transmit Lyme but other creatures such as mice and birds do. The bottom line is that even if deer are gone, these other creatures will still be out there infecting ticks, the same ticks that will infect people. Because of this, killing deer to combat Lyme doesn’t make sense.

Sincerely,

Susan Kokoska

9 White Oak Farm, Newtown                                  January 27, 2010