Pros And Cons Of Deer Killing

Is Killing the Solution Over the past Century there have been various opinions on how to prevent, or maintain overpopulation of White-Tailed Deer (WTD). Although killing is the oldest, and most effective method of deer population control, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission (NCWRC). Some animal rights groups like People for the ethical treatment of animals (PETA) feel that the killing of the WTD is not the answer to the problem. The population of these beautiful WTD is on the rise, the question on how to effectively slow down the growth. According to State Farm Insurance Company there are over 1.23 million deer-vehicle collisions in the USA from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012 (Blackwell, Seamans, DeVault Page 1). Although hunting, and killing is the oldest method of population control for White-Tailed Deer the questions I would like to ask are, is killing necessary? Are there other methods the NCWRC could implement to control the rising White-Tailed Deer population problem? What are the benefits that hunting provides to the economy, and ecosystem? What are the effects that the Deer population have to the survival and growth of the human race? Could we all work together to find solutions that all groups can agree upon? Although these are some direct and hard questions I feel that they needed to be asked, and answered with an open mind. Tori Perry, senior cruelty case worker for PETA says “We’re against any lethal form of wildlife control because it is ineffective long-term” (Bow and Arrow hunt Draws fire from PETA 1). Tori continues to argue that the problem with hunting the WTD is that the Wildlife Commission and the states that allow hunting see it as a quick fix. Even though the Wildlife Commission says that hunting is for population control Tori feels that it is an excuse to hunt, saying that “The problem with killing deer is it’s a sport, and it’s seen as a quick fix, even though it isn’t”( Bow and Arrow hunt Draws fire from PETA 1). Although Tori does not give any data to argue her point on this matter I decided to investigate. I spoke with Jonathan Shaw NCWRC State Deer Biologist, and discussed her concerns with using killing as a method of population control. Jonathan informed me that other methods have been on trial for controlling WTD population growth, for example, sterilization of the species at an early age. Although, the method of sterilization sounds promising the NCWRC has found that sterilization in fact causes more issues. “Sterilization of the WTD creates a lack of hormones to the animal’s brain, creating rage, lack of proper growth (deformities after birth), and even increased the number of human to deer encounters creating injuries to the WTD or humans involved. The Studies have also showed that there was not a drop in population of the deer in the test area” (Shaw). The NCWRC are continuing to look into other methods of decreasing the population while keeping the health of the WTD into account. Lt. Cameron Ingram Law Enforcement Division of the NCWRC says that “until there is a method in place that all parties can agree upon the NCWRC purchase game lands across the state to ensure healthy …show more content…
Both Lt. Ingram, and Jonathan Shaw have encountered deer infected with the Hemorrhagic Disease (HD) also known as “blue tongue”. Both NCWRC officers work closely with hunters to ensure that this Disease does not spread to other populations of deer. Deer often travel in a heard. When the HD disease hits according to Jonathan Shaw “the disease can kill up to 50% of a single heard in one year”. There are several other diseases that can spread to humans that are indirectly affected by a large deer population. “Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Tularemia, theileriosis parasites in the blood, Pharyngeal botfly; more commonly called the throat bot”(Fulbright, Ortega-S p.81). According to Jonathan Shaw these are some possible disease that can run ramped with a large overpopulated area with WTD. Hunting may not be appealing to all people. However, the NCWRC feel that hunting is a vital part of the wellbeing of not only the WTD but also for the human