Jim Sullinger: Johnson County to use “the lethal option”, will use sharpshooters, bow hunters to kill deer in park
Despite pleas to save the animals, Johnson County officials will employ sharpshooters and bow hunters to solve the problem of too many deer in Shawnee Mission Park.
The park and recreation board agreed unanimously late Wednesday with a staff recommendation to use the lethal option to reduce the herd from about 200 deer per square mile to 50 - a 75 percent reduction.
“If the deer herd in Shawnee Mission Park is not culled or reduced as humanely as possible, Mother Nature will do so,” said Michael Meadors, park district director. “And I believe it will be less humane - through starvation or worse, disease that could wipe out the entire herd.”
Related Posts:
- Jim Sullinger: County not sure what it will cost to thin deer herd at Shawnee Mission Park
- Shawnee Dispatch: Residents air thoughts on deer overpopulation at meeting
- Jim Sullinger covers lack of action on deer by Surbaugh, Eilert, Johnson County Commission
- KC Star: Controlled hunts proposed to limit deer in Shawnee Mission Park
- Jim Sullinger: County deer report points to use of shooters, archers in park
Tags: shawnee mission park
June 19th, 2009 at 7:56 am
This will certainly make news. I am a JOCO native and grew up there and remember when the park was being built. I alwoays enjoyed seeing the deer as that is what is usually in a park. I understand overpopulation of deer and the season for killing animals. But I also DO NOT AGREE with the way this is going to be accomplished. You are basically entraping the animal and killing not just bucks but femal and does???? I feel this is very in humane.
From the pic’s I saw in the KC Paper the deer were not bothering the car they were just doing what deer do grazing. If people that live close to the park don’t like the deer why in the world did they move there…did they not know they were living close to the park???
Accidents by deer…let me see statistics! When driving on an interstate you drive usually 70 or so and the accident can be serious, with that said one should never dive over 20 in a park and should have plenty of time to stop.
I can’t imagine how JOCO will appear when the national media gets a hold of this piece of news…a slaughter in a PARK!! And you are going to do the killing in AM and then open park in afternoon I can only imagine how that will appear. Kansas has Phelps, some other crazies and then slaughter of deer in a city park.
To me this is just in humane.
For me I will never think of SM Park with fond memories again…nor want to associate myself with JOCO again..just a bunch of butchers…
I will contact the appropriate people and see what they can do to stop this.
I AM FOR BAMBI!!
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:47 am
Agree with Vicki. Though many conservatives are for the hunting solution (though not necessairly the one the county is using), I am not. Suburban parks like SM Park should be hunting free. If that means spending a little extra to relocate these animals, then fine.
Also, what’s not being discussed is that it is the “Build Stuff” people who are to blame — the county’s overdevelopment has stripped much habitat of these deer, forcing them into the park. Look no farther than the blight in Lenexa, where many of the deer used to be seen, but now are not.
Also agree with Vicki about the over dramatizing of any accidents. I’ve probably driven by that park more than anyone in the county, and though I have seen deer, I’ve never been anywhere near an accident. If you drive slowly, you won’t be at risk. The problem is when people try to drive Renner at 55 mph. The best answer would be lowering the speed limit along Renner in front of the park to about 35 or 30, rather than this drastic action of killing the deer.
If some need to be relocated, fine. I’m okay with spending the money. What I’m not okay with is turning a revered suburban park into a hunting zone. Aside from a few loud folks, I know no one who favors this option.
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:09 am
I just found out that I have contracted lymes disease. It took weeks worth of debilitating symptoms and trips to the doctor and emergency room before I was tested for lymes. My long term prognosis is unknown and I could have debilitation side effects for the rest of my life.
It accorded to me what the only possible explanation for where I could have contracted this; Shawnee Mission Park. My girlfriend and I started taking her dog to the park this summer and had no idea of the threat of lymes
Am I 100% sure SMP is where I contracted lymes? No. Am I 99% sure this is where I contracted lymes? Yes. People who care more about dear instead of PEOPLES safety are mentally sick. Even if one is more concerned with animal safety the fact that numerous dogs are undoubtedly being infected should be reason enough.
If they (the powers that be or protesters) want to keep the deer population rampant then at least close off the park due to public safety. At the very least warn the public with appropriate signs near the entrances to the park and dog trail. I only wonder how many others are currently affected and in serious danger of developing conic life changing complications from lymes simply for going to a local park.