UPDATE: Hands off the Deer: Preserving the Peace in Valley Forge
UPDATE: Click here to see Friends of Animals’ full comments, joined by CARE of the Delaware Valley.
A Message From Lee Hall, Legal director of Friends of Animals (8 Feb. 2009) — Last month, I attended a public meeting held at Valley Forge National Historical Park. It’s known historically as a six-month headquarters for George Washington, and, more recently, as a safe haven for deer in suburban Pennsylvania.
With a few dozen other area residents, I watched a public slideshow presentation geared to persuade us to accept agents from the US Department of Agriculture in the five-mile park, with orders to kill the vast majority of the deer over the next four winters, then spend future years controlling the deer with a lab-created birth control substance, most likely leuprolide, a hormone-based formula.
It sounds like a large, chaotic experiment on the grounds of the now-peaceful Valley Forge Park.
The plan was outlined by a biologist. We’re expected to defer. Yet the plan isn’t right, natural, or needed. It doesn’t uphold cultural values or environmental awareness. It’s eerie on every level.
Since 2005, the Valley Forge Park deer population has decreased. Still, park officials don’t approve of the amount of vegetation this now-stable population is eating. But deer need special concern in decisions involving the ecological balance of a space. Ethically speaking, conscious beings aren’t just a factor to erase to solve a perceived problem.
Deer have always eaten native plants, plants that naturally regenerate. Expansion of the Penn Turnpike is a genuine threat to native vegetation with which deer are simply symbiotic.
Moreover, biologists acknowledge that coyotes are beginning to make a comeback. And unlike bigger predators, coyotes could safely exist in a five-mile park. The coyote population will take time to rebound, but this means we should promote their role in the ecosystem of our region.
I call on all Friends of Animals members and supporters, and every reader of this blog, to speak up for Valley Forge Park as a rare safe spot for animal life in the midst of suburban shopping malls and road construction.
To donate to Friends of Animals and support our work dedicated to defending the safety and dignity of the deer, click here. And thank you again for supporting “Alternative A: no action” against the deer.
Post your comment
Comment Guidelines: We welcome your expressions of opinion on this subject. Please avoid false commentary about individuals or groups. Facts must be verified by the person posting. Off-topic comments, and comments inappropriate for a readership of all ages, may be deleted. E-mail addresses will never be published. Only comments with valid e-mail address will be published.
36 Comments
On February 14, 2009, Maryanne Appel wrote:
With all the space that our human community has taken up in the areas surrounding the park, I belive it is incumbent upon us to allow the deer this five-square-mile stretch of land to use as their haven, a place where they can live in peace and harmony amongst themselves. I commend Friends of Animals and all of their supporters for speaking up on behalf of these gentle, unobtrusive creatures who have no voice to speak for themselves.
On February 15, 2009, Darlene A. Scharfschwerdt wrote:
The people on this earth are always taking away from the animals that live here. We need to leave them alone. It’s their earth just as much as it is ours.
If you want to kill the animals, why don’t you kill the people? There are too many of them. Leave the animals alone!
[Blog editors’ note: We understand your comment to mean the human population is growing very quickly in the Valley Forge area, and in general, yet no one is putting out a public comment form on whether we should shoot them and involutarily sterilize the survivors. That point is important.]
On February 15, 2009, Dawn Spencer wrote:
The above comment is succinct and states precisely what needs to be said. Hands off the precious deer please!
On February 15, 2009, amanda charles wrote:
Other options should be examined instead of slaughtering the deer. I’m personally tired of humans believing they have the right to take over every inch of this planet, and in the mean time, having no regard for the lives of other living creatures. I support Alternative A: no action.
Thank you! Please submit this view here (deadline is Tuesday):
http://www.nps.gov/vafo/parkmgmt/white-tailed-deer.htm
On February 15, 2009, Sydney Allrud wrote:
Please consider the “Do Nothing” alternative as carefully outlined by Friends of Animals. This is a conservative, thoughtful organization which recommends AGAINST the other measures currently being considered as ineffective, inhumane, and intrusive even to the human residents.
Let’s leave our precious friends, when well enough, alone. Thank you.
On February 15, 2009, Tina Halloran wrote:
Stop tearing down the forests. The deer need their homes!
On February 15, 2009, Jennie Mugrace wrote:
This is despicable; the deer aren’t bothering anyone and we, as humans, should not interfere with their way of life. These animals need a place of their own to perpetuate the wildlife and natural vegetation that grows there and has been there for decades. Don’t agitate something that’s not broken. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Thank you! Please submit this view here (deadline is Tuesday):
http://www.nps.gov/vafo/parkmgmt/white-tailed-deer.htm
On February 16, 2009, Darlene Bialeck wrote:
Please stop taking the land away from these animals.They were here a long time.Leave them alone.The goverment has been taking and killing animals when ever they please,just so they can have the land.Don’t kill these beautiful animals.
On February 16, 2009, Lee Hall of Friends of Animals wrote:
New article by Jeff Gammage, Philadelphia Inquirer page B1
Sun, Feb. 15, 2009
“Valley Forge park plans huge deer shoot”
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20090215_Valley_Forge_park_plans_huge_deer_shoot.html?viewAll=y
On February 16, 2009, DISGRACE wrote:
This is a disgrace. First it was the geese, now the deer. The animals inhabited this earth prior to humans and now they want to eradicate this life form. I live 2 miles from the Park and enjoy seeing them frolicking with their young. Don’t mess with mother nature!
On February 16, 2009, Joe Horvath wrote:
I support Alt. A - no action against the helpless deer. This is their home and no one elses.
On February 16, 2009, Meara Nigro wrote:
I support Alternative A - taking no action against the deer. We humans have encroached on their habitat.
On February 16, 2009, sandra barnes wrote:
My husband and I go to Valley Forge Park often. To relax and enjoy a piece of nature and get away from the rush - rush (stress)life of the city and suburbs. Seeing deer, log cabins, trees and grass is what brings a lot of my family and friends to this park. If the population of deer is working, why fix it? In this economy, money could be spent other ways. If there were too many humans in any given area, what would you do? We have agencies and people to help them, but who helps or speaks for the animals? FRIENDS OF ANIMALS! I SUPPORT FRIENDS OF ANIMALS’ POSITION IN FULL. I support Alt.A- no action against the deer. Stop messing with MOTHER NATURE.
On February 16, 2009, Miklos Bemis wrote:
I support Alt. A- no action. Deer are a part of the GREEN environment.
On February 16, 2009, Alexsa Horvath wrote:
I support Alt. A! Instead of installing miles and miles of trails, think of the animals for once! They don’t hurt anyone, they just graze in the grasses and oh what a beautiful site when riding thru the Park, as they feed with their young.
On February 16, 2009, Zofia Horvath wrote:
What next, mandatory human population control? I support Alternative A- no killing of the deer. They have the right to live just as we do.
On February 16, 2009, Nykolai Horvath wrote:
I support Alt A - no action. Poison geese, kill deer, what is this world coming to? Keep taking their homes, the fields, the woods. As far as I am concerned, the animals are more important than more unnecesary housing or malls. This is a business man’s game.
Thank you! Please submit this view here (deadline is Tuesday):
http://www.nps.gov/vafo/parkmgmt/white-tailed-deer.htm
On February 16, 2009, Stacy S wrote:
I’m with another poster, Darlene A. Scharfschwerdt, leave the deer alone. Whenever there is an animal/mammal overpopulation issue, the first option is to kill. Who makes these decisions? Whoever it is are morons! That includes anyone who votes against Alt. A. There are many other ways to control the deer and all other animal/mammal populations. May be whoever the idiots in charge are should make a decision about the overpopulation of PEOPLE! May be we should start sterilizing the people who have too many kids and are collecting welfare and our tax dollars could then go to protecting the animals who don’t have a voice and/or choice?
On February 16, 2009, Jill vic wrote:
Nature left alone, manages her own affairs. We are pushing and pushing the wild animals into smaller and smaller areas, and now they need all the help they can get, not hinderence…protection and assistance to enjoy their lives as Nature intended and for us to look on and see them there, and marvel at their beauty.
On February 16, 2009, Chantal Andersen wrote:
I support Friends of Animals position in full. Other more humane options should be taken to deal with this issue.
On February 16, 2009, Joanne M wrote:
I support fully Alternative A - no action. Population control needs to be left to nature, the way it was intended to be.
Thank you! Please submit this view here (deadline is Tuesday, 11.59pm):
http://www.nps.gov/vafo/parkmgmt/white-tailed-deer.htm
On February 16, 2009, Doris Potter wrote:
Please note that I support Friends of Animals position in full. Killing is never a solution. I support alternative A.
Thank you! Please submit this view here (deadline is Tuesday, 11.59pm):
http://www.nps.gov/vafo/parkmgmt/white-tailed-deer.htm
On February 17, 2009, DD wrote:
I fully support alternative A, stop the killing of all living things!
On February 17, 2009, Lisa wrote:
We humans need to leave the deer and all wildlife alone. We keep invading their territory. They need a place to live and we keep destroying the habitat.
On February 17, 2009, Chris Szczepanski wrote:
Amazing, isn’t it? Humans, who are supposedly the “intelligent’ species are the ones destroying nature and natural habitat. Leave the deer alone—let nature take its course. what’s to be left for our children and grandchildren? Find better use for government money. This country is a mess, no need to waste money in this manner. I support Alternative A: no action.
Maybe we should sterilize the crooks, oops I mean the bureaucrats who are running this country. I don’t want my tax dollars going for this upsetting of nature.
On February 17, 2009, GG wrote:
Please support Alternative “A”, No action Against the Deer. Friends of Animals deserves full praise and I support them for their committment of working to help save the lives of wildlife without interference by human beings who want to continue to destroy the planet; say NO to violence against the deer. Let them live in peace.
On February 17, 2009, dinda evans wrote:
No actions against deer, please. It is the humans that are overpopulated and waste land for sprawl. This morning in CA they shot a cougar cub as dangerous because it walked down a street. I am tired of the war against nature and other species.
On February 26, 2009, Mary Stephens wrote:
I support Alternative A, I am against the killing of the deer especially in Valley Forge, if this does occur you can bet we will never spend a day there again, I could not enjoy myself knowing I am standing in a killing field splattered with blood from inocent and beautiful deer. Please leave them alone, we love to see them and people there do more damage than the deer could ever do.
On March 3, 2009, MJ wrote:
All this deer killing has to be stopped. Its the humans that are causing the problem for the deer. Taking their land away, allowing hunters to go where the deer sleep and their home and attract them, then slaughter them like they do in Weston CT and many other places. Now I read greenwich is going to tranquilize deer and fit them with GPS. Now what is that going to lead to? Make it easier to track groups of them and then hunt them down during hunting season now that they can be found with GPS. How pathetic is that. I support Alternative A. NO DEER KILLING
On April 21, 2009, James Neary wrote:
The deer in Valley forge are not “fenced in”? Are you kidding me??? I dare anyone to try to cross US 202, the PA turnpike or 422 during morning or evening rush hour during the months of October through February when deer travel the most in search of food.
I support the planned deer kill, but was dismayed to learn that there was no plan to process the meat and donate it to families in need or homeless shelters as they do where I live.
I also object to the introduction of coyotes or other predators, as they would have no problem heading west into populated areas.
Blog editors’ note: You’re one of the state’s
l million hunters, and we really don’t give a hoot about your dismay or aspirations to justify an obscene slaughter of deer whose habitat has already been cared up enough to accommodate an invasive species: the homo sapien.
The deer at Valley Forge have sparce wooded areas left at a National Park too full of grass, roadways, sidewalks and theme park-type amusements. Leave these animals in peace, and kindly keep your hands off them.
On April 22, 2009, James Neary wrote:
Dear Mr(s) Blog editor, I hate to inform you, I am NOT a resident of Pennsylvania, so please don’t state your opinion as fact. I live in Alabama and have visited Valley Forge when Jimmy Carter dedicated Valley Forge as a National Historical Park in 1976. I have been back several times since.
I find it hard to believe that a group of people who calls themselves “friends of animals” would want this deer heard to eventually starve itself to death. A sustainable deer density for a suburban area is about four to 13 deer per square mile. A large open space such as Valley Forge can sustain 20 deer per square mile. In 2006, the number of deer had increased to 244 deer per square mile. Do the math, they will starve themselves to death in a few years. Do nothing, and the deer heard will fall to CWD, TB and other diseases, and trust me, you would not want to see a deer with Chronic Wasting Disease. It is absolutely the worst way for an animal to die. How many visitors driving through Valley Forge would be horrified to see a deer along the side of the road dying of CWD? Wait a few years and find out the hard way.
I know what you’re thinking, “those same visitors may see a deer get SHOT”. I highly doubt the Park Service will allow visitors into the areas where their sharpshooters will be working.
On April 23, 2009, Lee Hall of Friends of Animals wrote:
Dear James Neary,
The point that Valley Forge is a National Historical Park is significant, but you don’t follow up with this, so I’ll move on to the points you put forth.
The Park Service is not actually arguing that they feel sorry for the animals who might starve. They are arguing a lot of things but essentially that several native plants are endangered.
I went on a hike Thursday in the Park. I saw a good number of deer. None looked even slightly thin, let alone starving.
Chronic Wasting Disease has never been a factor in Pennsylvania.
And it is not OK to kill in private where no one is likely to witness the act.
Why are you talking about the “introduction” of coyotes to the area? They live here.
Lee Hall.
On April 23, 2009, clandis wrote:
I am an animal lover. I do not eat meat, wear fur, and do not buy leather. However, I have a neighbor that hunts every year, first by bow & arrow & then when rifle season starts, by rifle. He only kills the deer he will eat. I am ok with this. It is by far less cruel than the torture and inhumane treatment domestic animals suffer on farms and transport and slaughterhouses. I am ok with the park hiring some sharp shooters to thin out the heard. I too walk thru the park, and their is absolutely no vegetation on the lower level of the forest. It is depleted and I did not notice any new growth at all. We need our trees most importantly - as they provide all with much needed oxygen!! We’d all be dead without trees! Song birds need this vegetation to nest and live (a birds gotta live too you know). Birds are essential for seeding and regeneration of forest, eating pesty bugs, and so forth. I would rather see the deer swiftly shot and killed, than the deer starving themselves to death. That indeed would be suffering! No, you cannot donate deer meat (I checked with a local high-quality dogfood company who uses venison already). They cannot certify the deer do not have something called “wasting a way disease” —a kind of mad cow disease in deer. Unfortunately, until humankind becomes educated on his/her impact on the environment, these battles will continue. I would rather see you spend your money on education, than on attorney fees for a battle that has a lose/lose scenario.
[Blog editors’ note: We’re not OK with what you’re OK with. It’s propaganda to say the deer are starving so send in the so-called sharpshooters. And,
our lawsuit is pro bono; no monies will be spent from FoA. As for Valley Forge, the place is largely paved with sidewalks and roads and then there are miles of grass.
Trees were sacrificed for a soccer field look, so to talk about a lack of vegetation in the small, patchy wooded areas is absurd. Sounds like hunting propaganda. ]
On April 24, 2009, clandis wrote:
As a degreed conservationalist, I find your reasons for allowing these deer (let alone any animal) to continue to over populate and diminish their habitat are far crueler than allowing them to be hunted. I am not a hunter, nor would I ever hurt any animal but I do beleive that population control is a healthy and NATURAL part of any ecosystem. As being part of the world ecosystem, we all need to realize our role in it. We, all of us regardless of vegetarian, omnivore, animal loving extremist, have damaged the complete natural balance of earth’s ecosystem. how you may ask? We have removed the deer’s natural predators every where. So unless you are implying that we should re-introduce timber wolves and mountain lions to heavily populated areas, humans need to intervene and keep the populations of prey animals in check. I have a book that I think you all should read, the first is “A Sand County Almanac” by Aldo Leopold, a very very very smart conservationalist. If you decide to read this book make sure you read the chapter “Thinking Like a Mountain” Also read “Where the Wild Things Were” by William Stolzenbrg. Please know that I am a complete animal lover, but in order to appreciate wildlife for generations to come we all need to become conservationalists. What vegetation remains in Valley Forge needs to protected from an overly large herd of deer. Because the deer are eating the saplings and seedlings, new forest growth will not occur, when there is no new growth, nesting song birds will not be around, without nesting song birds, insect populations will grow unchecked and more vegetation will die, seeds will not be spread by birds and the park will turn into little more than field of weeds. We need trees, every single inhabitant on Earth needs trees no matter how small or big, please do not get so wrapped up in the issue of the deer population that you forget about the balance that needs to occur in every ecosystem There is no hunting propaganda going on in Valley Forge, in reality it is the only way that future generations will be able to enjoy nature and all of its inhabitants.
Sincerely,
A concerned inhabitant of Earth’s ecosystem.
On April 25, 2009, Lee Hall of Friends of Animals wrote:
Dear Clandis,
You say would never hurt any animal. This is significant, and I appreciate you for it. As you must already know, many conservationists only look at aggregates, and decline to consider animals as individuals.
Are you sure, though, that rifles, silencers, and hormonal birth control or immunocontraceptives are a healthy and natural part of any ecosystem? And are they consistent with your regard for the well-being of individual animals?
You say we have removed the deer’s natural predators everywhere. Are you aware that coyotes could thrive in Valley Forge National Historical Park?
Are you aware that coyotes in fact already do live in this area?
Are you aware that coyotes, in pairs and in groups, naturally prey on deer?
No need to re-introduce timber wolves and mountain lions to heavily populated areas. (Nor would that be fair to them. Recall that we are speaking of a 5-mile park. It would be for wolves what a little bowl would be like to a fish.)
Please also recall that the Park has been established on farm land. You seem to think that the deer cleared the Park; not so.
We are all for the presence of songbirds and natural vegetation.
Please be assured that we are challenging the Park’s deer-control proposal based not only on our respect for the deer, but our respect for the entire biocommunity.
Thank you for your interest in our work at Valley Forge.
Sincerely,
Lee Hall,
Legal director of FoA - another concerned inhabitant of Earth’s ecosystem.
On August 9, 2009, Bridget W. Irons wrote:
Silence is the enemy of justice. Speak out against the unjust war on deer. Isaac Bashevis Singer once said, “There will be no justice as long as man will stand with a knife or with a gun and destroy those who are weaker than he is.”