DADvocate

South of Cincinnati, just across the Ohio River in the area generically referred to as "Northern Kentucky", sit about a dozen or so small cities piled up against each other. Combined they create the second largest metropolitan area in Kentucky with approximately 350,000 people. Portions of this densely populated area are being overrun by deer.

Fort Thomas city leaders say they have a problem. And that problem is too many deer.

So they're considering using sharpshooters to thin the herd, but not just any sharpshooters: members of their own police department.

"We are talking about in-house sharpshooters, this would not be open to the public," Mayor Mary Brown said. "We do have a couple of people who are sharpshooters who qualify as sharpshooters."

Some residents don't like this plan. I question it myself. The wisdom of even the most skilled sharpshooter firing a high powered rifle at deer in an area with maybe 50,000 people within range of the rifle doesn't sound too great.

I can attest to the deer population. I drive through Ft. Thomas and several of these other cities to and from work. Dead deer are a common sight on the side of the Interstate. I suspect some deer live in the wooded areas along the Interstate.

I'm not sure how Ft. Thomas can best handle its deer problem. Maybe if they let a few Blue Tick Hounds run through the city the deer would go elsewhere.

But the big question is: With an abundant food supply available and mountain lion sightings nearby, will these big cats enter the cities? What are the limits of allowing predatory animals to live and prey in areas with heavy populations? If the big cats come, who will be the first human victim, a child, an elderly person, or a homeless one sleeping the night in the woods?

Maybe we should revisit leash laws. Dogs chase and scare deer away. According to "Beast in the Garden", two or three good hounds send mountain lions fleeing in terror. Unfortunately, dogs will chase and attack humans also. Seems there are no easy answers here, either.