THIS WEEK BEGINS a new chapter for The Pioneer’s opinion page with the introduction of an experimental new column we’re calling Devil’s Advocate.
Differing opinions are what make us such a diverse community, but that doesn’t have to mean it’s a divided one. Our goal through this column is to explore and further the debate on certain issues, be they local, state or nationwide, or even on a global setting.
The term “devil’s advocate” describes someone who, given a certain point of view, takes a position he or she does not necessarily agree with, or simply an alternative position from the accepted norm, to explore the thought further.
Here’s how it works: Each week Pioneer Editor Bryce Martin and Gene Anne Kulseth, media consultant for The Pioneer, will decide on a topic. One will share their view; the other will serve as “devil’s advocate.”
This isn’t meant to be combative or divisive. On the contrary. It’s an effort to help readers understand the opposing sides to an issue in a constructive manner. We’ll do our best to inject the column with wit and humor to keep the debate lively and light.
The Pioneer is dedicated to being fair and balanced in its reporting, highlighting both sides of a story, so why shouldn’t its opinion page offer the same thing.
We hope you find this new approach to be insightful, educational but also entertaining.
We invite you to share your own viewpoint on the issues we present by submitting Letters to the Editor or by commenting on our website.
This week’s topic: Bowman Police Department euthanizes deer in city limits that exhibited “aggressive” tendencies towards pets.
Bryce:
As Bowman Police Chief Chuck Headley posted on Facebook last week: Don’t approach wild animals in the city. Sure, we’d all love to keep a deer as a pet (maybe not), but don’t do it. Keep safely away from them if they’re in the city.
That should be common sense. But to children who are curious to see the creatures up-close and want to “play” with them, it’s not always the case. I guess I’m guilty of that, too, though. I once tried to feed one a tomato – the only fresh produce I had at that moment. They didn’t like it; looked at me as if I were an idiot. Maybe I was.
I visited Red Lodge, Mont., late last summer and was surprised when we were driving around and spotted multiple deer, both does and bucks, carelessly grazing alongside residential streets. They seemed unfazed. But people didn’t approach them. They simply passed by. That’s what Bowman has been experiencing for quite some time, until now, when it was announced a local officer had to euthanize one member of the herd.
These are the same deer that once took up space in the mornings and evenings in my backyard. We’d walk out of the garage and suddenly spot three of them just lying in the grass, calm as could be. I’m an animal lover, so I was excited at the sight. When I posted a picture of the deer on Facebook but some people weren’t as thrilled.
I think having them around town adds an interesting element for the city. But not everyone was having it — and that made me sad.
A person reportedly contacted the police to tell them one of the deer had been aggressive towards a family pet. Because of that, it had to be put down. The department suggested it could have had some type of disease, potentially rabies, since it was exhibiting tendencies the other deer were not. OK, if that’s the reason, sure, put it down. There’s not a cure for rabies. It’s deadly for humans and other animals.
But if there was no sign of disease, and just because it was aggressive with a pet, it shouldn’t have been done. Call your pets inside. Animals have unpredictable behavior.
I hate when I read about people approaching animals and they’ll react poorly or, in at least one case, people putting them in their car because it was cold. Then those animals are typically euthanized. Not cool.
Why should one person ruin it for everyone else? Not to mention basically handing down the animal’s death sentence.
So stay away from wildlife — unless you’re hunting, which I’ve made my peace with — even though you might want to touch it or feed it; let it alone and let it live.
Gene Anne (Devil’s Advocate):
The primary reason I love living where I do is the abundance of wildlife we get to see on regular basis. I love nature and all of its creatures. I like to think of myself as some sort of animal “whisperer.” Ask my ever patient significant other: I will try and rescue any creature I find that I perceive to be in need.
My dream would be managing an animal sanctuary of some sort. I can’t think of a better way to spend my time. That being said, in my limited experience of rescuing animals, sometimes rescue is not what is needed. Sometimes the result, no matter the intention, is worse for the animals we want to save. Allowing nature to take its course is usually the best answer.
However sometimes as humans we must intervene, as we saw here in town last week, and it isn’t always a rescue.
I, too, love seeing deer in town. There is something about it that reminds us that where we live, albeit somewhat remote, is a very special place. No matter if they are seen as a nuisance or a blessing they are part of our North Dakota landscape. However, it can lead to some thing of a clash between people and wild animals as it did in the incident our town’s police were called to negotiate.
Should the deer that was behaving strangely been put down? Yes.
Being the rescuer of all creatures that I am, it may seem a harsh answer, but through my often-failed rescue efforts, I have learned that sometimes what seems harsh and cruel is for the best. Nature is not kind. It is about survival of the fittest for the greater good.
This deer, in behaving unafraid and aggressive, was exhibiting signs of possible disease and if nothing else had lost his natural fear of humans, both of which put the deer and his companions in danger.
Diseased or not this deer would likely put itself and possibly people in continued peril. Sadly in this situation there is no rescue, there is only the reality that the animal must be put down for the good of his herd and ours.
Live and let live, absolutely, but sometimes the answer must be live and let die. Sometimes the sacrifice of one is for the good of many and we must be seemingly cruel to be truly kind.
