I read in The Star about the “exploding” deer population in Shawnee Mission Park and the concern from the Lyme Association of Greater Kansas City about the spread of Lyme disease through deer ticks (2/5, Local, “Outcry grows to cull deer at Shawnee Mission Park”).
I have visited Shawnee Mission Park twice a day for the last two years. Approximately twice a week I see a small herd of about five deer by the 87th Street entrance to the park. When I walk in the woods I see no evidence of deer damage to the vegetation.
Further, in all that time I have yet to receive a tick bite.
Many people go to our parks to see wildlife. I vote for finding a way to coexist with our native plants and wildlife.
Jan Pierce
Lenexa
The deer worry about Chuck Norris hitting THEM.
Posted by: Pub 17 | February 16, 2009 at 06:49 PM
Coyotes are loaners. They ain't big enough to hunt healthy deer. Also they are way smarter than they look. They are coming after the easy pickings in your trash can. Or maybe your cute little "pocket dog".
Posted by: jack | February 16, 2009 at 06:20 PM
Chuck Norris doesn't worry about hitting a deer.
Posted by: Pub 17 | February 16, 2009 at 05:15 PM
'Roo bars wouldn't help a lot of people. Guy I know ... the deer came through his windshield without touching his hood or grille. Wound up in the back seat, stunned, then came to and ran off while he was talking with the highway patrolman.
Posted by: viet-vet1970 | February 16, 2009 at 05:09 PM
In Australia you got roo bars. Why don't we have roo bars?
Posted by: Pub 17 | February 16, 2009 at 04:30 PM
A guy I used to work with had a run-in with a deer on a business trip in Wisconsin and came back with a trashed drivers side fender. I ran the advertising department back then. We made a vinyl sign that read "The buck stops here" and glued it to the fender.
Posted by: TinaMcG | February 16, 2009 at 03:49 PM
I'll look through my files, there must be something, "Didja hear about the Yooper buck that thought..."
Posted by: Pub 17 | February 16, 2009 at 02:09 PM
"Deer won't bug you till one gets all over your windshield. ".....
...or caving in the drivers side door of your Chevy Lumina on US2 in the YooPee, and then bounding off into the woods as if nothing happened.
Bastid animals. Wish I liked venison.
Posted by: TinaMcG | February 16, 2009 at 01:10 PM
Deer won't bug you till one gets all over your windshield.
Posted by: Pub 17 | February 16, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Deer don't bug me. They're all over my neighborhood. However, in the past month I've seen two coyotes, presumably coming after all the free meat.
Posted by: Sammy | February 16, 2009 at 10:49 AM
Who ARE these people?
What does it take to get them to understand the concept of managing wildlife?
Electroshock? Insulting their taste in shoes? Slapping them till their fillings rattle?
Posted by: Pub 17 | February 16, 2009 at 08:52 AM
How many times have you seen "Bambi" Jan?
Posted by: BudRog | February 16, 2009 at 07:52 AM
Hmm, let's see here.
The article is FULL of quotes from a large variety of affected parties (including Kansas Wildlife officials) talking about how overpopulated the deer are in the area. The words "one of the densest populations in the nation" are actually used.
Jan only sees five deer a day, therefore there must not be a problem.
Posted by: Marctnts | February 16, 2009 at 07:07 AM