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DEAR EDITOR:
The Mill Creek MetroParks Board of Commissioners believes there are too many deer in the 15 areas of the park. These areas include Mill Creek Park in Boardman, and others.
A study done by a third-party contractor claim there are 387 deer per square mile and the herd must be thinned. They propose conventional hunting with guns and archery. Sharpshooters would come into the park at night, bait the deer and shoot them between September 2023 and February 2024, and continue for six to seven years. The goal is to kill 360 deer this first season, costing taxpayers approximately $700 per kill.
We, the Help Save the Mill Creek Deer Committee, met a few days ago. The guest speaker was a wildlife biologist who knows Mill Creek Park very well. He said 387 deer per square mile is "preposterous." He gave details on how deer herds move in search of food and what they eat. He said the deer are healthy and of optimum size. He recently spent time in the park and is adamant no deer overpopulation exists and they have plenty of food.
For those who live bordering the park, do you favor hunting in such close proximity to backyards? Will you feel safe sitting on your back deck? When there was a hunt in 2001, there were reports of arrows found lodged into garages! For those people who often walk in the park, you will be restricted from using trails September to February while hunting is underway.
The park board is scheduled to vote April 10. Preliminary recommendations given by Natural Resources Manager Nick Derico, urge the board to pass this. When approached by citizens in opposition, some board members aren't interested in hearing what we have to say.
Those opposed to killing these deer based on inflated statistics are under pressure to inform citizens of facts. This is not a sportsmanlike hunt. This is a slaughter! Citizens should feel safe in their homes and backyards; tax dollars should not be used to fund this. You should have access to the park whenever you want, without restrictions!
Contact the park board of commissioners and urge them to vote no! You may also attend the public meeting 6 p.m. April 10 at the MetroParks Farm. There is much at stake!
To contact the board of park commissioners, call 330-702-3000, or email them right away.
Lee Frey, Frey@Millcreekmetroparks.org; Germaine Bennett, Bennett@millcreekmetroparks.org; Thomas Frost, Frost@millcreekmetroparks.org; Jeff Harvey, Harvey@millcreekmetroparks.org; Paul Olivier, Olivier@millcreekmetroparks.org; and Aaron Young, director, Young@millcreekmetroparks.org
SUSAN KUDERCA
Boardman