While I'm a wildlife lover, the deer population in our area has gotten out of hand. We have quite a large number for such a small community. 

The deer are destroying yards, including retaining walls, plants and gardens. Since there is such an abundance of greenery in our area, it's an endless buffet for the deer. Some folks are also feeding them, which is not helping the situation. 

Public safety is also a concern. We have had deer stand their ground in our yard while we are trying to walk our dog. They do not spook off, but rather stomp their feet at us. Deer should not walk up to people, but because folks are feeding them, they are no longer scared/timid around humans. Of course, another cause for concern is car accidents/car damage.

There is also the consideration of the diseases presented with a large deer population including Lyme’s disease and worms. Moreover, their scat makes a mess of people’s yards, walkways and porches. 

This petition serves as a call for action to present to local officials. We feel that something needs to be done to curb our local deer population before we reach crisis mode. Contained hunts were successful in the Mt. Lebanon area years ago. That could be a possible solution, but there may be other options we are unaware of. 

For more information, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has put together this guide explaining community deer management.