Council right to cull deer herd
The Reverend Thomas C. Willadsen
I love the deer herd on the southwest side of Oshkosh. When I am on that side of town I drive on Osborn Avenue, hoping to catch a glimpse of them. My sons love spotting them from South Park Avenue when they stand on the crest of the quarry's hill.
Last summer when friends from Manhattan visited Oshkosh we drove on Osborn hoping to spot the deer. Manhattanites recognize only two forms of wildlife: rats and pigeons. Because the deer have no feathers, I knew our friends would marvel at the size of Wisconsin rats-and their antlers!
But the deer are starving. At February 10's Oshkosh Common Council meeting City Manager Mark Rohloff reported that the carcass of a deer, dead of starvation, had been found. December 2008 was the snowiest December on record. January 2009 was unusually cold and severe. Harsh weather and overpopulation are killing the deer.
Deer are mortal. Some die from starvation, some by being hit by cars, some from old age, and to date, six have been killed by sharpshooters. This last measure was selected by our city council after more than a year of weighing options to address this problem. Councilors voted after looking long and hard for a reasonable solution. Citizens have disagreed with this course of action with great passion, and that is our right, but we must not forget the hard work and research that informed each of their votes.
Only six of perhaps 40 deer have been killed by the sharpshooters' first two sorties. The goal is not to kill the entire herd but to reduce its size so that the damage done by the deer to adjacent property may be reduced. Reducing the size of the herd will also keep the deer from spreading into other parts of Oshkosh.
I believe hiring sharpshooters is a reasonable course of action because the deer are a hazard to public safety. Cautious driving will not eliminate accidents. Sometimes deer run into the sides of cars. What will the city council hear when someone is killed or permanently injured in a car-deer accident?
With an eye toward bringing a new perspective on this controversy, I considered two alternative approaches.
First, let's introduce wolves to the quarry. Wolves are certainly the most natural, the "greenest," way to cull the herd.. There is a downside: we would be introducing predators into our neighborhoods. Wolves would not only kill deer but probably our beloved cocker spaniels, too. Though this proposal would be natural and possibly inexpensive, I concede that it is impractical and unwise.
Or, let's turn the quarry into "The Oshkosh Pet 'n' Shoot." We could see that the deer are well-fed and protected. Let's care for them, then use the herd as a training ground for young hunters. They could be taught safety and field dressing. They could pay a fee for taking part in this controlled and safe hunt. Of course, no one wants inexperienced hunters firing rifles so close to a populated area. So, specifically-trained sharpshooters are a much better solution.
Still, the sharpshooter alternative is not perfect. Neither those who want the herd eliminated, nor those who want it protected at all costs, are satisfied with the response. To me, the dissatisfaction on both sides is the mark of a good compromise.
So I say, "Bravo, Oshkosh City Council," for thinking, listening and acting.
This column was first published in the Oshkosh Northwestern February 25, 2009