Editor, Times-Union: I am writing in response to Chuck Orlando's letter claiming deer are "victims" to man's "ramming into the deer's rural area."
My letter on 11-29-06 was not intended to put deer in a bad "light" by using inaccurate statistics. Unlike Mr. Orlando's letter, which had no facts and merely opinion, the statistics used in my letter are accurate based on 2005 reports of accidents and crop damage caused by deer. The statistics for predator and man incidents actually reduce through the years (which is why I used worst-case reports) reaffirming my point; with less natural predators and deer's high reproductive rate, more incidents involving man and deer will result. My letter was intended to educate on why hunting is a needed resource for proper deer population control. It was also to let insight into why some people hunt and the value we put on nature and its wildlife.
By the way, a deer's actual top speed is 35 to 40 mph for very short distance, which is no match for even someone comfortably having his cruise set at the speed limit. I am sure not everyone involved in deer/automotive accidents are unsafe, speeding, irresponsible drivers.
As far as issues with money-hungry speeding developers, he will have to address his issues with them on his own.
A. Richard Wine Warsaw, via e-mail
Brave Mouse
Editor, Times-Union: At a time when hate and greed and violence are almost epidemic, it is encouraging to see unquestionable evidence that God the Creator has built into the animal kingdom that which can overcome its worst enemies and go through fire to do it.
Don Shively, resident of Claypool, was burning leaves in his yard a couple of weeks ago and probably leaning on the handle of his rake and thinking of winter when a field mouse hurried past him into the burning leaves. Thinking he would soon notice the aroma from a cooked suicidal mouse, the mouse returned through the flames again, seconds later, past him into the safety of the grass, only this time there were three tiny babies clinging somehow to the body of their mother. Don said he could no more lift a foot to stomp on her than he could have hit California with a pistol from where he stood.
One word further, Don, if you see that mouse again. Give her a piece of cheese for a single mother with three tiny babies facing a winter - she is going to need all the help she can get.
