ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, October 19, 1996 TAG: 9610210016
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHINCOTEAGUE
SOURCE: The Washington Post
But even here, it seems, love of animals has its limits. Deer are taking over the island, and many residents say it's time to break out the shotguns.
A few years ago, it was rare to see deer anywhere on Chincoteague. But now they are everywhere, residents complain - darting in front of cars, feasting on shrubbery and bringing an increase in ticks that carry Lyme disease.
The deer issue has sharply divided this Eastern Shore island's 3,500 residents. In one camp are those who say that gunfire is the only way to keep the white-tailed pests in check. On the other side are those who maintain that hunting the deer would be cruel - and hardly in keeping with Chincoteague's image among tourists as a wildlife wonderland.
To help resolve matters, the town's deer committee polled residents last week about what should be done, although the poll results, to be released within a few days, will not be binding.
``What's the big debate? Shoot them. Cut their throats and gut them,'' said Joe Baker, who runs the coffeehouse in the Corner Book Shop in the heart of town and is one of many longtime residents in favor of giving hunters or specially hired sharpshooters carte blanche. ``They're overrunning the island. We've let it go on too long.''
But islanders such as Miriam Johnston cringe at the very thought of anyone taking aim at the deer she loves to watch. Besides, the deer committee member says, it's just not safe to have people shooting on a densely populated island.
``This is Chincoteague, home of Misty. We can't be shooting deer in the streets,'' said Johnston, shaking her head from side to side. ``We have people who come here to see deer. This is supposed to be a gentle place.''
Seven years ago, the town of Chincoteague annexed the rest of the island from Accomack County, which widened the scope of a town ordinance forbidding any shooting. That, plus a growing number of delectable gardens and the absence of natural predators, has turned Chincoteague into a Club Med for deer.
It's been a disaster for avid gardeners. Last spring, Cecile Watson planted two dozen pansies. By the next morning, deer had chowed down every single flower. As soon as her tulips started to poke up, all the bulbs disappeared. When her husband Frank's five rows of string beans started to emerge, it was the same: munch city.
Islanders say they've tried every homemade recipe to keep deer away. They've hung slices of Irish Spring soap from stockings around trees and sprinkled red peppers on their cherry tomatoes. Nothing seems to work.
The Watsons installed motion-detector lights that snapped on as deer approached at night. Then they realized that just made it easier for the deer to see what they were eating.
Chincoteague's Town Council formed the deer committee this year. Last week, two government workers sat in the Town Hall's reception area and telephoned 85 residents in a random sampling to get opinions on the deer question. Committee members say they will consider the poll results in making their recommendation to the council, which will have the final say on the deer's fate.
LENGTH: Medium: 61 linesby CNB