COUNTY - A Bridgewater member of a council committee mandated to examine control measures on what some consider an out-of-control deer population wants to hear comments from townspeople.

 Councillor Jim Bell last week invited people to contact him with their comments prior to the committee's next meeting, scheduled for August 20.

 Representatives of other county municipalities met with Natural Resources and an angling and hunting group on July 22 to hear about deer.

 The Town of Lunenburg initiated the discussion after concerns were raised about deer decimating gardens, posing a hazard to motorists and hosting the small black parasite known as a tick that can carry Lyme disease, a condition that can be transmitted to humans.

 Councillor Bell said he's done some research on the topic.

 "Some of the suggestions I looked at on the internet and [I] found out there can be an invisible fence put around the property and this fence is quite effective," Councillor Bell said August 11. "Another one is to plant certain flowers in along with your own flowers that are being eaten by these problem deer."

 But Councillor Kevin Marlin is concerned the town is participating in talks related to a problem that may not be an issue in Bridgewater and wonders if consideration has been given to potential long- and short-term solutions.

 "I'm just questioning our role in this," he said. "Is this a true community problem or is it a nuisance concern of some residents in certain communities and has that validation been done through official means."

posted on 08/19/08