Ohio Needs to Kill Bambi

Something has to be done with the overpopulation of deer in Ohio, and that something must begin in Lorain County and Avon Lake. Animal rights groups, and others who think Bambi is harmless need to step aside. Deer are causing too many deaths and too much destruction.

Is anyone looking at a solution? The Governor's office appears to be throwing the deer problem to the side. The County does not seem to be addressing the matter ( It is understandable that the safety of humans should be top priority, and the commissioners need to find the funds for our safety forces before addressing the deer problem, perhaps). Can we expect Avon Lake council to do something? (Thank you Mrs. Fenderbosch for considering bow hunts). Talk is no longer an option. Avon Lake must move forward to kill the deer--kill them all!

What is the solution? Reduce the cost of  licenses to hunt deer, eliminate the quotas, bow hunt more, or allow for a longer deer hunting season? Whatever the solution, make the priority to kill more deer. Start in our state, county, and city parks, and eliminate these death nuisance animals.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration there are about 1.5 million car accidents with deer each year that result in $1 billion in vehicle damage, about 150 human fatalities, and over 10,000 personal injuries.  

The actual numbers are probably higher because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's figures for deer accidents, rely on inconsistent state reporting- there is no standard reporting of deer accidents in the country yet, and a "reportable deer accident" varies significantly between states.

In an insurance claims statistics' study, the top ten states for deer accidents listed the worst states for deer collisions based on total number of claims filed with one of the countries largest auto insurers and Ohio ranked fourth.(Note:1) Pennsylvania 2) Michigan 3) Illinois and 4) Ohio). The number of accidents increases with the deer migrating and mating season which occurs between the months of October and December. So far, in less than one month three of my friends have had collisions with deer--on Lake Road in the daylight, on Jaycox Road at 5:30 pm and along Walker Road. Thankfully, they are alive to complain about the damages to their cars, but others have not, or might not be as fortunate. Last month, a family of seven went left of center to avoid a deer and hit head on to a semi tractor trailer--all seven died. Although many of us know to drive head on into that deer on the road, often even a squirrel in the road causes the wrong reaction.

A typical deer-vehicle accident results in insurance claims of about $3,100. Ohio was fourth in deaths from deer-vehicle accidents in 2005-2009 with 49. The odds of an Ohio motorist hitting a deer were 1 in 132 and that ranks 15th among all states. The national odds are 1 in 193. The inconsistent reporting of deer accidents makes it hard to find statistics, but even these might provide some with the dangers of deer and traffic deaths.

Lyme disease and other diseases carried by the deer is continuing to grow. It is reported that the Black-legged deer ticks are in Ohio and spreading. Humans and pets working and playing outdoors in woody or weedy areas are exposed to these ticks and tick-borne diseases.(Lyme disease is a potentially debilitating infection that includes fever, chills, headache, fatigue and severe joint pain. It is a painful, debilitating almost to the point of crippling disease according to the Centers for Disease Control).

Besides death and disease, the destruction of vegetation is becoming uncontrollable to our gardens, farmland, and parks.

Little current data is available quantifying deer damage to crops in Ohio, deer (61 percent) and groundhogs (Marmota monax; 38 percent) were responsible for nearly all damage to soybean plants. The estimated economic loss from deer destruction to high-value agricultural crops including fresh market and processed fruits and vegetables for 1995 in Pennsylvania was $17,506,294 (can you imagine the impact that deer destruction has in 2011?). The estimated economic loss from deer to grain crops for one year from 1995-1996 in Pennsylvania was $25,738,984.

Although the data is old, anyone whose garden has been destroyed by deer knows, deer destroy and kill. Some gardeners no longer plant because it is impossible to see the final results as deer damage destroys. Imagine a farmer who depends on crops as a livelihood?

Deer are great to hunt and feed a family, but deer are killing people in cities, along our interstates and destroying vegetation and causing disease.

The public health and safety of Ohio is at risk and the Ohio’s government is on notice. KILL MORE DEER. Find an answer to eliminate this pest besides the use of deer fences, repellants and other non effective worthless controls. Too many motorists have died, too many accidents have occurred, disease from deer is becoming rampant and too many crops have been destroyed.

It is important that we do something about the overpopulation of deer in Ohio. Please consider contacting legislators and calling for steps to eliminate this deadly pest. Bambi needs gone.