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SHAWNEE, KAN. -
Starting this fall, sharpshooters will start killing deer at Shawnee Mission Park to help the overpopulation problem. Now, protesters are raising their voices hoping they can still stop the killing.
Protesters passed out flyers to people coming to the Parks Board Meeting and they plan to speak during the public comments portion of the meeting hoping to gain more public opinion on their side.
"We want to pressure the park to change their minds," said protester Jason Miller from the Bite Club of KC. "What's the message to our children if something is inconvenient we'll just kill it?"
Miller is leading the charge. He wants the Parks Department to use non-lethal ways of thinning the deer population like fencing and contraception. He said studies show killing deer makes the problem worse.
"Because the deer will repopulate more quickly to compensate. It's called the compensatory rebound effect. So, they will need to keep doing this year after year," said Miller.
The Parks Department said with no natural predators, the deer are out of control.
The Director of Johnson County Parks and Recreation said the issue is decided and didn't want to respond to protesters any more than reading a statement.
"For reasons detailed and discussed at great length in the public process that included two public hearings, not in the least include the long term health of the deer here at Shawnee Mission Park, the district will be proceeding with the deer management plan," read Parks and Recreation Director Michael Meadors.
That plan involves bringing in sharp shooters in October to kill about 75 percent of the deer population.
If necessary, they'll also bring in experienced bow hunters. The deer meat would be donated to food banks. They said this is the humane way to deal with the problem, but the protesters disagree.
"We want to educate the public," said Miller. "We want people to understand what they're doing with this cull is unnecessary barbaric and ineffective in the long run."
On Tuesday, the Parks Department got the city of Lenexa's approval for the deer harvest, and the city of Shawnee has indicated it will approve the plan as well.
Protesters passed out flyers to people coming to the Parks Board Meeting and they plan to speak during the public comments portion of the meeting hoping to gain more public opinion on their side.
"We want to pressure the park to change their minds," said protester Jason Miller from the Bite Club of KC. "What's the message to our children if something is inconvenient we'll just kill it?"
Miller is leading the charge. He wants the Parks Department to use non-lethal ways of thinning the deer population like fencing and contraception. He said studies show killing deer makes the problem worse.
"Because the deer will repopulate more quickly to compensate. It's called the compensatory rebound effect. So, they will need to keep doing this year after year," said Miller.
The Parks Department said with no natural predators, the deer are out of control.
The Director of Johnson County Parks and Recreation said the issue is decided and didn't want to respond to protesters any more than reading a statement.
"For reasons detailed and discussed at great length in the public process that included two public hearings, not in the least include the long term health of the deer here at Shawnee Mission Park, the district will be proceeding with the deer management plan," read Parks and Recreation Director Michael Meadors.
That plan involves bringing in sharp shooters in October to kill about 75 percent of the deer population.
If necessary, they'll also bring in experienced bow hunters. The deer meat would be donated to food banks. They said this is the humane way to deal with the problem, but the protesters disagree.
"We want to educate the public," said Miller. "We want people to understand what they're doing with this cull is unnecessary barbaric and ineffective in the long run."
On Tuesday, the Parks Department got the city of Lenexa's approval for the deer harvest, and the city of Shawnee has indicated it will approve the plan as well.
