After exploring the subject of deer management in Western
Pennsylvania in my college class, I’m convinced that deer
populations must decrease. There is not enough food to support
their current numbers. Deer are extreme foragers, eating twigs,
buds and leaves. They are destructive. They eat saplings, which
inhibits future trees from developing. With an appropriate
population, this foraging wouldn’t have any negative effects.
However, the current population is destroying its food source,
which is why many deer die of starvation and malnutrition. Deer
are not only destroying their food supply but also their
habitat. And as I said above, an appropriate population would
have no detrimental consequences. But, their numbers are too
large. To reduce the population, I believe there should be more
hunting. Although many hunters oppose that option, it’s in the
best interest of deer. To convince hunters that this is the best
alternative, the public must be educated, and local meetings
should be held on deer management. T