Up here in New England, it is not just a crop destruction issue (I won't bother talking about landscaping), but also an ecological issue. The deer population exploded up here due as much to reforestation in the last 50 years as a lack of predators (except possibly coyotes). Heavy forest grazing by too many deer has adversely affected other species that rely on the low vegetation for cover and food. Most suburbanites around here have little idea that their treasured forests are really ecological deserts due to deer overgrazing. Allowing deer hunting and managed timbering would make a huge difference - the self-styled suburban environmentalists around here are completely unable to comprehend that concept.
But deer overpopulation up here is also a human health issue, because the deer play a role in the transmission of Lyme's Disease. Hunting is not widely supported in this part of the world (modest understatement), but the rampant spread of Lyme's Disease up here is leading to discussion of about "culling" deer herds in the Boston suburbs as Lymes' Disease becomes more and more prevalent. When they look like Bambi, you can't hunt them for food, but when they start acting like rats, it is okay to exterminate them, I guess.
Last edited by Doverham; 06/13/13 02:46 PM.
