Build higher fences?


The deer depicted in this painting are feeding at a forest, their natural habitat, or a royal park. But a recent shooting in a St. Paul suburb raises a vexing question about whether people should feed wild animals in their midst and, if so, at what risk to them or others. 

This week, a long festering feud between neighbors over this very issue erupted into a deadly assault. At issue was whether feeding deer is an act of kindness or helps spread contagion, like the ticks that transmit Lyme’s disease, and fosters a dependency on such handouts.         —Diane Richard, writer, May 7

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Image: David Joles

Source: Jim Anderson and Paul Walsh, “Police: Deer-feeding feud leads to homicide in New Brighton,” Star Tribune,May 7