We, the undersigned, oppose the Asheville School's idea to "cull" deer (more accurately known as killing) roaming the school grounds in greater numbers as the result of over-development.

We urge you put a stop to these plans immediately, and to consider not just the ramifications to the deer, but to students themselves. The Asheville School has a great opportunity to teach students that the first reaction is not always the best; that old methods of doing things are not always effective, and in fact, studies show that hunting deer is not an effective means of controlling population (please see links below). Carrying capacity for suburban deer can be as many as 100 per square mile. Management plans utilizing birth control and sterilization can be effectively utilized to lower populations without the violence of hunting, while deer culls traditionally show no long-term impact on populations.

Our concern is also for the students. Bow hunting is a violent act that does not always result in the immediate death of the animal being hunted, and we are concerned that the first thought of taking care of a perceived problem is such a violent one. We need be teaching students - and one another - how to redefine what constitutes a problem, and how to de-escalate situations that we find problematic for one reason or another. We need to be looking for solutions that benefit all of us, including animals, particularly as we learn more and more, through the science of ethology and other means, about the amazing lives of animals - including their sentience, their ability to feel joy as well as pain. They have the right to their lives, too. Perhaps it would be an interesting project for students to form their own plans that don't harm deer or other animals. But whatever the case, this planned cull/kill must not be allowed to proceed. Thank you.

Link to a great website to help you out: http://www.deerfriendly.com/urban-deer-management