DEER: Pretty - and destructive

This is in response to the February 14th letter by Jeanne Stone Helstrom about the merits of deer in our yards at Dalton.

The only thing I agree with is they are beautiful and fun to watch, but not when they are eating my garden.

I was born and raised in Cd'A almost 76 years ago. We did not have deer in Cd'A or Dalton Gardens like we do now. When I was growing up we were lucky to see a deer, even if we went for a drive in the mountains. There were no deer on Sherman Avenue as we have now.

We built our house in Dalton Gardens 44 years ago. We didn't have a deer problem until the last few years. Back when Dalton Gardens was known for selling veggies and fruit - they did not have a deer problem. If a deer did come into the area it was shot and consumed. No gun restrictions and no leash law for our dogs. Therefore, dogs and the use of guns controlled the population. Last year 8 deer were shot in Dalton Gardens (no, I did not do it ), no domestic animals or humans were injured.  So it proves it can be done!

She says not to put up a tall fence because they will get tangled in them; sounds like she has a fence in her back yard (moved tulips to back yard).

Deer will eat any vegetation, so just plant what they don't eat does not work!

Not a friend of long-legged rats.

PATTY DAHLMAN

Dalton Gardens