Re: "Let's find real solutions to the deer problem," July 29.
I applaud the call for a humane solution to the conflict between gardeners and wildlife. With all the letters pro and con, it is not surprising that guns are a recurrent theme. What is surprising is that no one has offered a creative solution, or even asked how other communities with deer or other animal populations discourage unwanted damage.
This problem was academic to me until my son bought a house on Shawnigan Lake, and he started making noises about shooting the deer raiding his garden.
Fences are one obvious solution, but deer can jump amazingly high. Also, one octogenarian horticulturist has already objected that the cost of fencing a large property is prohibitive. So what is a lowcost solution to the problem that avoids unwanted gunfire? Sound. While we were brainstorming, I suggested something that emits a sound that only deer can hear. My son questioned whether such a thing even exists. A little research revealed that there are sonic emitters for everything from mosquitoes and other insects to rodents, deer and even bears.
Is sound a regional solution? Well, it's better than anything I've heard so far. I don't want to see deer or any other wildlife exterminated. But I don't want to wrestle with a bear or cougar while I'm grilling a steak in the backyard. If you can erect a sonic barrier that deters unwanted incursions, isn't that a humane, dignified solution?
Tom Gurgal
Victoria
