Letters to the Editor: Thanks for Attention to Deer Overpopulation

Big THANKS to North Fork Civics, North Fork Environmental Council and the North Fork Deer Alliance for joining together as the Deer Management Coalition. It’s time to demand action by our town, our county and our state.

It has been eight years since a group of us in Southold called for the first town meeting on this subject. A large group attended, voicing sad stories of tick illnesses they suffered and demanding action to reduce the growing tick-borne disease epidemic here on the East End, and the related issue of deer overpopulation environmental damage. Today both situations are WORSE than they were in 2013.

We have lived here for forty years and remember, pre 1900’s, when we had a very small sustainable deer populatand, and so no tick diseases. Our children lay on the grass to view the shooting stars. This summer my five year old grandson visited twice. He knows to be very careful about where he walks – only the stepping stones in our grass, careful during visits to the beach, the petting farms, the farm stands and the tedious “tick checks” every evening.

But after his July visit and again his September visit the child ended up with Lyme disease: TWICE in three months. We are saddened and we are angry. We need new and more effective leadership. Let’s push our representatives to take action. For the health of our loved ones MAKE OUR YARDS SAFE AGAIN.

Ellen Wexler
Southold