HomeMy WebLinkAboutOpen Letter to Trustees of VCH- Deer.PDFOpen Letter to Tiustees of Village of Cayuga Heights December 21.201lr
As educators and mental health proferssionals in Tompkins County, we are extremely.concerned that the deer
eradication strategy proposed Uy ttre tlrustees will endanger the children of this area both physically and
emotionally.
As we understand it, the trustees plan to hire an outside contractor to draw in groups of deer with bait and shoot
them en rnasse. This shootinLg will occur in close proximity to family homes'
Carrying out the mass slaughter so cl,ose to homes threatens the physical lafety of children. Recently, two children
in a iayiare center in Mich-igan were accidentally shot by a deer hunter. Middle school children and teenagers
could find themselves in the-iine of fire as they hike or explore in the woods throughout Cayuga Heights. We
remain unconvinced that the Cayuga Heights irustees can provide clear and conclusive evidence that their plans
will not result in physical harm to the: young people of our community.
The mass killing strategy will also result in emotional harm to many children. In our experience, mosl children
have strong posilive fee-iings' about wildlife and animals, including deer. We have_seen the strength of this bond
ou", *unliy"ars of working with children. The news of any massive deer kill will quickly pass through the larger
cornmuniry-to children of aTlt ages. The baiting, entrapping, and systematic destruction of a whole population
evokes the honors of war anLd will most ceftai-nty offend "hild..nir sense of fairness. Seeing a wounded_deer, blood
trails or other evidence of the killing process may be scarring, especially when the children will know this was not
the result of an accident, bu1 part of-zideliberate tampaign. Some children will recover in a few days, some in a few
months, and some may be permanentlly damaged.
How can children be expected to diflerentiate between the mass killing of a population of large mammals because
they are o'inconvenient" and the potential for the killing of their pets, birds, squirrels, themselves? How can
chiidren be expected to be aware of this action but undirstand tfiat random killing and torturing of living things is
an unacceptable behavior?
An impoftant aspect in chilcl development is the forming of values. Research has shown a strong link between
cruelty to animals and subsequent ciuelty to humans. Especially for children who are having difficulty establishing
appropriate behavior, the curient plan foi deer eradication will confuse children, and reinforce violence and
d'eitruction as suitable actions. W. *uy well be faced with more incidents of harm to vulnerable people, pets and
wildlife in the future, if the planned rslaughter of deer takes place'
Decisions by the Cayuga Heights Trustees will profoundly affect tlie children of Cayuga Heights and the wider
community. Please ihoor" to model the use of reason, compassion and creative alternatives to violence.
As educators and mental health professionals we know how damaging adult decisions and actions can be for
children.
The Trustees have a responsibility to protect our children. We urge you to do so.
Sincerely,
Karen Chimenn, Licensef, Cfinira( S ocia( W or6.er,
Camifle Doucet, art educanr and arttst
Ka{then'}{unt, MA (S cience E f,uc ation)
,Jva Les6.y, MA, CSA stuf,ent teacher :suyervisor;1CSD Eftmentary Princila(, ehmentary anf, miff,fu schoo( nacher (ret{red)
Les(ie Mornin6s6y - lrtaca City Sc6oo[ District efementary schoo( uacher (retirefi
r.fizabe{t (g*ty) 'lloot, MSll, Ms,Ef,,, Licensed Cfinica( SociafWor6nr, auL{tor
Patty Syrague, dte Safe Chilf, Projecr
Charfene fempfe, MSW, Licensef, c(lnlca( socia(Wor6.er,
Mary Wifllams, M,E d., form,er efementary anf, yreschoof teacher