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Nantucket Locals Ticked Off at Deer

Residents blame population for upswing in tick-borne diseases

By Wesley Oliver, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 6, 2009 1:07 PM CDT

(Newser) – When the first deer landed on Nantucket in 1926, cheering crowds greeted them. But as a vicious trio of tick-related diseases devastates the island, many say the Bambis have overstayed their welcome, the New York Times reports. “The numbers of tick-borne diseases are so off the graph, and it all comes back to the deer,” one official says. Residents remain divided over a controversial proposal to eliminate ticks, which feed on deer blood, by allowing more deer hunting.

Nantucket has noticed a recent upswing in Lyme disease, and the less common but potentially fatal babesiosis and ehrlichiosis. Measuring the number of infected is difficult, because thousands visit just for the summer, and one infected man insists people refuse to discuss the issue because they’re worried about hurting property values. Several experts want increased hunting, but one opponent, whose husband is infected, remains defiant: “I really love the deer. My mother took me to see Bambi when I was little.”

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

This file photo of a female deer tick seen under a University of Rhode Island microscope in the entomology lab. (AP Photo/Victoria Arocho, File)

Some Nantucket residents are calling for increased deer hunting to combat a vicious trio of tick-borne diseases. (AP Photo/Dean Fosdick)

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We recognize that it’s a big problem here. Those of us who live here all know someone or are related to someone or have ourselves had a tick-borne disease. - Michael Kopko, Chairman, Nantucket Board of Selectmen

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 4 comments

sailor86

Sep 7, 2009 4:47 AM CDT

Mercy killings. Sounds like us or them.

jagerhans

Sep 7, 2009 2:27 AM CDT

i don't see the problem. deer make excellent game. they weren't there before so it is perfectly legitimate from the environmental perspective to erase them bringing the place to its original population of zero deer. open the hunting season all year round there and exterminate the whole deer population. if animal rights mongoloids show up, shoot them hypocrite assholes in the heads as well with black talon ammo. if you need a hand doing both things i can grab my carbines, take a plane and help you in both processes. fending off human pests will be even more fun than stalking the annoying, but perfectly innocent deer.

Mad

Sep 6, 2009 8:18 AM CDT

Who the fuck could disagree with that statement? (Idiots blind to reality, that's who) Plus, I love the irony that your nick is "Chicken"! TU just for that!

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Massachusetts • deer • hunting • Lyme disease • ticks

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Nantucket Locals Ticked Off at Deer