Deer pose problems at airport in Massachusetts
This seems to have quite a few people concerned and with good reason. Yes there appears to be a problem and yes there should be something done but, I think all options should be explored before a decision has been made. What do you think?
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It’s not just animal rights groups concerned about the issue of killing problem deer that pose a serious danger on the runways of New Bedford Municipal Airport. Hunters were just as upset after Monday’s Standard-Times ran an article saying the airport was getting permits to kill the deer, but “because this is the season in which many does are pregnant, officials will wait until later in the spring or summer to begin the process.”
Mike Ferreira of Freetown, an avid sportsman, was concerned because does (females) give birth to their fawns in the spring, sometimes as late as June. Killing does in the spring and summer would leave their fawns orphaned, and without their mother’s milk, they would starve to death.
“I don’t have a problem with shooting some of the deer at the airport, but if it’s going to be done on a large scale, do it in the fall, when the fawns are old enough and strong enough to fend for themselves,” Ferreira said. “Knowing that there could be a bunch of newborn fawns roaming around hungry in the spring doesn’t set well with me.”
Airport Manager Ed DeWitt said that it was just one of several options being reviewed, and that those sentiments are being taken into consideration.
Most agree fencing in all the runways would solve the deer problem permanently, but DeWitt said that could take as long as 2-3 years to install. Wetlands are among the areas that need to be fenced — that means a year just to get the proper permits, and a fence engineered to keep deer out, but allow turtles and other wetland creatures to crawl under it.
The $500,000-$1 million cost shouldn’t be an issue, with possible grant money available through the Department of Homeland Security. The animal rights extremist groups, which have hundreds of millions of dollars at their disposal, also should kick in, seeing as they are being vocal about not wanting any deer shot.
So until the fence is up, there are still those deer to deal with. DeWitt said there about a dozen deer on the airfield at any given time, plus 3-4 times that number living in the immediate area. A non-lethal option mentioned in Monday’s article included setting up feeding stations to attract the deer away from the runways.
It may sound good at first, but providing more desirable food than the lush green grass the deer are eating now will probably just attract more deer and compound the problem.
Hunters are also concerned that the deer shot out of season will be wasted, as nuisance deer permits often require that the animals be destroyed, but DeWitt said that he wants the deer to be utilized by an institution. Sources say the Veterans Transition House in New Bedford is being considered as a possible venison donation recipient.
Another concern is that as deer are removed, more will just take their places, siphoning them from huntable herds and attracting them away from nearby hunting areas.
Without the fence, the problem will never go away. Let’s hope the airport gets it up as soon as possible, and opens the area to a limited number of hunters during the regular fall season to keep the population in check.
If danger is immediate and a few need to be shot off the runways — even in the spring — I’d rather see a dead deer and fawn than a plane crash.
I would say the fence sounds like the best long term solution. I would also agree that, if deer need to be culled, it should be done in the Fall, when the fawns could survive without their mothers.
They need to find a good long term solution though. Culling the deer now just gets rid of those deer, it doesn’t stop more from coming from other places.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:55 am
Kristine, thanks for your input. As usual it is greatly appreciated. You always seem to make sense when I read your comments.
April 22nd, 2008 at 2:00 pm