I attended the Oakwood City Council meeting of Monday, January 23 for the purpose of speaking out in favor of saving the deer in Oakwood. I was obliged to leave for another meeting before having the opportunity to speak.
I live at 235 Park Road where we have four acres of largely wooded land abutting the Houk Stream Wild Flower and Bird Sanctuary. There are, of course, other woodlands in the immediate vicinity. As a result, we have deer on our property almost daily. We love the deer and they are always welcome. They forage, of course, and eat some plants. But guess what? Plants have a way of growing back. To the contrary, people do not! As a neurosurgeon, I have through the years removed all manner of missiles from the human brain, including arrows of various types. The end results were never happy and often fatal.
The deer constitute no threat to man or beast. Arrows and bolts that miss their mark certainly do. The deer also constitute no risk of vehicular accident on Ridgeway Road so long as the 25 mph speed limit is duly enforced. In fact, I have entered my driveway (which is hidden) only to be confronted by as many as eight deer standing in my way. I stopped, rolled down the window and talked to them. They simply looked quizzically at me, ambled out of the way and walked off into the woods. I can foresee arrows and bolts missing their mark and flying onto Ridgeway Road contributing a much greater threat to human well being than the possibility of a deer-vehicular accident.
I recently received a hand-delivered solicitation in my mailbox from one Kenny Lainhart, a man living in Middletown, Ohio, asking my permission to hunt deer on my land. This suggests to me the possibility of illegal poaching that could well take place.
Finally, I vigorously oppose any change in the city ordinance that would allow the hunting of deer within the City of Oakwood.
I would appreciate you reading this letter to the Council Members at large.
Sincerely,
James F. Sheridan, M.D.
As we continue to educate ourselves concerning amending the ordinance to allow deer hunting in Oakwood, we checked with Oakwood neighbors and believe, to the best of our knowledge that the following entities have no interest in culling the herd or eliminating the deer: The City of Kettering, Woodland Cemetery, NCR, Five Rivers Metroparks at Hills and Dales, Community Golf Course, the University of Dayton, Dayton Country Club, and Riverview Cemetery. In fact, Riverview Cemetery on West Schantz is removing the pointed tops from their iron fence in order to prevent the future impalement of deer. Thank you to these neighbors for the kindness, support and respect for the deer and their determination to maintain safety for people and deer coexisting in one environment.
However, it is our understanding from the Ohio Division of Wildlife and the City of Moraine that Calvary Cemetery was issued a permit to kill deer in November and December of 2005 and these deer may be the same deer we see in Oakwood.
Considering the lack of evidence provided substantiating personal injury resulting from the deer presence in Oakwood, public safety concerns do not warrant the
attendant risks to Oakwood residents of hunting in our city. Even the simplest, yet effective measure of using “deer crossing” signs has not been implemented. These warning signs appear on no Oakwood streets, not even in the most wooded areas where deer are seen regularly.
Without supporting injury statistics, a safety problem is unconfirmed. So what is the issue? Apparently, hosta and other plant material damage is the issue. If those who chose to live in a wooded setting cannot handle wildlife, then it is more humane and reasonable for them to relocate than to kill the deer. What if they complain about woodpeckers, raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, and stray cats and dogs? Where will this precedent end?
It appears reasonable and logical for Oakwood to develop strategies and effective measures to allow the deer to live while at the same time providing a safe environment for people rather than joining with other municipalities and special interest groups whose definition of “managing” deer is actually killing deer. We encourage the viewing of the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s website that details deer hunting activities and which includes a photo gallery of deer…dead deer. Hunters are seeking only one outcome. Surely, Oakwood residents deserve complete information about those “educating” our community. In addition to the brute force approach, an intellectual, sensible and safe approach should be examined. All persons concerned with the elimination of deer and this appalling ordinance amendment, please attend the Oakwood council meeting on Monday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the Oakwood Municipal Building.
Marlene Maimon
Jane Maney
When one writes a column (or an editorial) he always wonders whether or not anybody reads it. I have just found out that a number of folks have done so. Helpful comments and concerns were raised by Kelleher, Marquis, and Dankof about my column on our justice system.
I acknowledge that my usually very reliable source for the three cases cited was very wrong and that the cases appear to be “urban myths.” I apologize for not catching this problem.
My goal in writing the column was to improve the education of our youth in learning more about our judicial system and its place as one of three main arms of government-judicial, executive, and legislative. Hopefully all of the words written since my column have been and will continue to be focused on the same goal.
However, it is nice to know that others do care and are willing to take the time to let us all know that! Thank you all!
James K. Uphoff, Ed.D.
top of page
|
