Picket Line

**J* B* <j*@usol.com>**

I'm now among the few garden writers in this country who has had a  
picket line thrown up against them.   It was my own fault, but it  
does represent a challenge to any columnist.  I happen to believe  
that the explosion of the raccoon population in the city, suburbs,  
and exurbs is a serious problem. So I did a column on the topic.  Bad  
mistake.  At least my wording was very unfortunate because it raised  
the wrath of PETA the Animal Rights folks.  I got about forty e-mails  
35 to 5 against.  The newspaper got as many or more angry phone calls  
and yesterday PETA set up a picket line in front of the newspaper  
which caused the editor to go beserk.  I was not in danger of losing  
my job, but my newspaper was not happy with me, that's for sure.   
Today, they (Detroit News) published three negative letters and then  
some quotes from a representative of the state Department of Natural  
Resources who quietly confirmed I had my facts correct.  My political  
sensitivity was what was lacking.

Killing any pest animal no matter the circumstances is not acceptable  
to the members of PETA.  I knew that, but it didn't occur to me that  
my little yardening column would even get their attention.  Nancy is  
taking high road of course.  She told me it was a bad idea to write  
about the subject in the first place.  I now owe her a fancy dinner  
out because yesterday I was at the hospital all day getting routine  
tests so she had to handle the maelstrom over the phone with the editor.

The whole incident is troubling.  PETA wants nothing to be done about  
the over population of deer and raccoons, ignoring the public health  
problems those two groups pose.  The legislature won't touch the  
problem because they fear the response of PETA.  The DNR won't  
address the issue because they fear PETA and the deer hunters.  My  
newspaper is surely not going to let me or anybody else address the  
problem at least in the next year or two.  So the population of deer  
and raccoons continues to grow in areas where they have no predators  
and are protected from hunters.  Lymne disease and rabies are two  
very serious public health problems directly caused by deer and  
raccoons.  I certainly have no desire to raise another ruckus, so I  
guess I just sit back and watch - very frustrating.

Jeff Ball
jeffball@usol.com
810-724-8581
Check out my daily blog at www.gardeneryardener.blogspot.com
Check out my extensive web site at www.yardener.com

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