Decades ago Walt Disney's movie about an orphaned deer moved audiences to tears. There is something appealing about these shy animals that encourages our protective instincts - but now the question of culling arises.
There are simply too many of them living on the fringes of Wollongong and as a result motorists are at risk of collision when they invade our streets, and hungry deer are ruining domestic gardens and destroying the trees that shield us from landslips after heavy rain.
Sentiment aside, few would disagree that the numbers must be reduced.
The problem is - how ?
The use of poison baits results in a cruel death and other animals become a by-product of such campaigns. The use of professional shooters is expensive, hence public land has been opened to recreational shooters to alleviate the problem.
This has been partially successful. Unfortunately, no serious impact has been made on deer numbers because recreational shooters are more interested in hinds of venison and antler trophies than the number of kills.
A deer is a big animal. If a recreational shooter achieves a " kill " the animal is butchered on the spot, and it takes a lot of effort to carry the hind quarters away from the target area. As a result - one deer per shooter becomes a reasonable limit.
If we are serious about a deer culling we need to provide an incentive for recreational shooters to increase the numbers game. Perhaps a financial reward for each deer culled, with some form of evidence to be provided as verification.
Unfortunately culling deer is abhorrent to most people's sensibilities - but the damage they do is real and the risk will eventually cause a human death.
It is a job that has to be done !
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