I mentioned in my last opinion piece that the city made a good start by banning the feeding of deer within city limits. In speaking with the city, and state fish and game representatives, it seems that there is more to come. Expect a long process involving public input.

What none of us should want is an expensive process. I have a concern with the recent history of the City Council acting  “in good faith” to solve a problem with a solution that seems like a bargain, only to have the price balloon to an extraordinary amount with little or nothing to show for the effort. (See Cherry Street Affordable Housing Project)

In the meantime imagine my surprise when, in the process of researching human/deer conflicts, I discovered that Western Washington is home to the black-legged deer tick that carries Lyme disease. Adding to my newfound knowledge, I stumbled across at least one Port Townsend resident who contracted Lyme disease in the last couple of years from a tick bite received while working in their yard.

Scientists believe the pipeline for Lyme disease operates as follows: As black-legged tick larva mature into nymphs they feed on mice carrying the infectious bacteria, Borrelia Burgdorferi. As the nymphs mature into ticks they feed on larger animals, primarily deer. Deer bring the nymphs and ticks into proximity to humans when they browse through our landscaping and pause for a siesta under the camellia bush. The deer wander off. Nymphs, the size of a poppy seed, and ticks, slightly larger, are left behind to find a human or pet host. This might be you, your kids, or the dog playing in the yard. The ticks find their way onto your skin, latch on in search of a blood meal, and pass on to you the infectious bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

Lyme Disease is a serious, potentially debilitating illness.

The Washington State Department of Health recommends that the best way to protect yourself is to reduce your exposure.  If staying indoors doesn’t suit your plans, know that ticks need to be attached for at least 36 hours to transfer the bacteria.  You should inspect yourself and your children for evidence of ticks and remove them immediately.

There is no vaccine yet. If you are infected, symptoms usually appear in three days to three weeks. If identified early, Lyme disease can usually be cured with anti-biotics. If you miss the symptoms and discover you have the disease a year later, there is no effective treatment. Arthritis, fatigue, mental issues, and severe headaches are long-term side effects.

The disease is rare in Port Townsend, for now. The County Health Department tells me there have been ten cases of Lyme disease reported in the last ten years, only two of which were verified as originating in Jefferson County. Some experts say climate change could make our region more favorable to deer ticks. The Jefferson County Health department has begun discussing what that may mean for Jefferson County residents. Regardless, if we reduce the number of deer, we reduce the number of tick transports that can spread infection to humans. Yes, Lyme disease rare, perhaps that is reassuring.  But what if it is your child an infected tick finds? That one case could mean the world to you and your family. It will not seem like an outlier to you.

It is not just the threat of diseased ticks that pose real hazards. Deer can be killers.

A dog was killed by a deer in November 2019 in Uptown Port Townsend on Clay Street a block from my house. I have learned that it was on a long retractable leash, and was killed by a buck. The local Fish and Game wardens were unable to do much because they could not identify which of the many bucks in this neighborhood might be responsible. Even if they could locate the exact animal they would need evidence of continued aggressive behavior towards the public to justify any action.

Bucks are aggressive during the rut in the fall. Does can be very aggressive in the spring when they have their fawns. Deer kill dogs in urban neighborhoods just about every year. The dog does not have to be aggressive towards the deer to warrant an attack. If you try to protect your dog you may become a target as well.

I welcome the public process and a healthy debate, but I don’t believe we should spend time or money on half measures like deer sterilization or air gun administered birth control. The most immediate and cost effective solution is to harvest these deer on an annual basis. If we had feral dogs wandering around town, they would be removed. If we had wild cows grazing on the courthouse lawn, they would be removed. Feral dogs and cows are not tolerated in Port Townsend. Let’s add deer to the list as well.

Brett Nunn

Brett Nunn has spent the last two decades in Port Townsend’s Uptown, raising a family, volunteering at local schools and wandering the outdoors. He writes about survival, community and culture. He is the author of the book, “Panic Rising: True-Life Survivor Tales from the Great Outdoors.”