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Editor, News-Register:
More than 40 years ago, my husband and I returned to Wheeling for three reasons. One reason was the park system. Over time our family used the parks, and I worked and continue to volunteer at Oglebay, donated to the foundation and regularly walk the trails.
Things have changed at Oglebay -- some good and some not so good. The culling of the deer falls under the latter category.
I have recently discovered that Oglebay is planning more hunts. In their own words, they state, "highlight the impact of the first urban deer hunt." This is the reason for my letter.
Tega Cay, South Carolina was going to use off-duty law enforcement sharpshooters to cull the deer population. The town encompasses 2.5 square miles of land and Oglebay is approximately 3.1 square miles. City leaders listened to the citizens, and a Tega Cay Wildlife Conservation Society, which was to work to get more information, was formed. The use of ZonaStat-D, which is the birth control dart, was recommended and is being considered. Little Falls, New Jersey set up a Wildlife Commission. The town has raised awareness and set a fine of up to $250 for feeding the deer.
Saddle River, New Jersey also set up a Wildlife Management Commission to research the deer population growth and focus on non-lethal methods of controlling the deer population such as neutering and spaying. They have worked with Dr. Anthony DeNicola of White Buffalo Inc., which created a program to perform vasectomies on deer on Staten Island. White Buffalo's website notes that because "lethal deer management strategies have become impractical for legal, safety and ethical reasons in a growing number of communities," it has "fostered an interest in alternatives including contraception and surgical sterilization."
These cities have two things in common. They listened to their citizens and set up commissions to study the deer problem. Wheeling has a city council with people who represent the citizens, and meetings are open with public comment available. The five people on the Wheeling Park Commission represent us; however, we don't know when the meetings are held and therefore they get no input from us. They work with the CEO to make decisions. The CEO may have a history of managing facilities but Oglebay is a city park that is loved by its citizens. We need to know more about the Commission's meetings and the Commission needs to consider what other towns have done.
Elaine Beneke Strauch
Wheeling