HOW TO INVENT AN ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER
Recently there was an article in the Southland Times titled ‘Deer Decimating Southland Forest’. Of course, every anti-deer person including Forest & Bird jumped on the wagon, chucking in their five cents worth
The Hokonui Hills were a key case study for the article. Farmers were quoted as saying they are seeing large amounts of deer out on their farms. As it so happens, I know the Hokonui Hills well - in fact, as I write this, I am looking out the window at them.
The article touched on carbon loss, canopy collapse and water quality - all the big-ticket environment problems blamed on deer. The article also touched on the deer population issue in other parts of Southland – for example, the likes of Landcorp farms that seem to be situated right smack in the middle of prime Southland hunting areas and have a similar story to the Hokonui Hills.
Unlike most pro-deer or anti-deer articles I am not disputing the facts.
