Hunters to kill deer at SMC
By SARAH NESTOR
Saint Mary's Editor
Don't be alarmed by that sound you hear, it just might be gunfire.
Starting today hunters will begin to reduce the overabundant deer population on Saint Mary's campus, hunting in the cornfields and around the nature trail. Although the hunters will not be on campus everyday, these areas will be off limits through November.
"We ask students to avoid the area for the next month," Lindsay Evans, a Saint Mary's representative to Notre Dame campus life said at Monday's Executive Cabinet meeting.
Problems with the deer population began three years ago, when an environmental study of the campus was conducted and found that the deer population was growing at an alarming rate. Over the past year the deer population has doubled and it is estimated that there are currently 80 to 100 deer around campus.
"A hunt was conducted last Christmas vacation, but it was not a successful hunt," Judith Johns, Sisters of the Holy Cross environmental director said. "One of the best times to hunt is while the deer are in rut and are in small groups, instead of herds."
During the winter deer run together in herds, which makes it easier for the herd to hear or see predators. On campus the deer have been causing accidents, going through windows, hitting cars and disturbing nuns at their residences. Another potential problem is that deer are known to carry Lyme disease, which can be transmitted to people.
"I wish there was a better way to do this, but we have no alternative," Johns said.
Johns said that other means were investigated before the decision to bring hunters on campus, including talks with the Humane Society and the Wildlife Fund. Another option was to ship the deer to another location. No one, however, was willing to take the deer, according to Johns.
The areas that are off limit will be roped off by yellow caution tape and warning signs have been posted to ensure that students or visitors do not accidentally wander into the hunter's path. There will also be security officers patrolling the area. Letters informing the Notre Dame and Holy Cross communities about the hunt have been sent.
"This is not a sport hunt but a population reduction. Not just whoever wants to go back there and hunt will be able to," Johns said.
The marksmen will be hunting on campus around dawn, from 5:30 to 10:00 a.m., and dusk, from 3:30 to 7:00 p.m. The hunters have the option to keep the deer personally, or the meat will be donated to the homeless.
Matt Bramanti contributed to this report.
All News Stories for Tuesday, November 5, 2002
