On June 1, 1998, a meeting was held behind closed doors to determine policy concerning deer, which set the stage for a relentless persecution of innocent animals who have committed no crime. As citizens, we have the right to know and observe our government’s actions. This sorry state of affairs can only be described as the fox guarding the hen house. More on this another time.

Upon completion of last winter’s occupation of our parks and now other land areas owned and operated by Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, over 6,000 deer have been killed with ruthless efficiency since winter of 1999.

Deer have an ecological role to play in ecosystems. Take potty breaks. Research conducted at Cuyahoga Valley National Park, backed by the National Park Service, showed that the droppings of a robust deer population enrich soil with organic matter, thus encouraging plants to grow and thrive with ripple effects throughout the food web, starting with earthworms, spiders, ants, slugs, snails, snakes, salamanders and insects.

Biologists have confirmed that on average, a deer will defecate 10 to 15 times a day in fall and winter whereas in spring and summer, it’s 20 to 30 times a day. Fawns even more.

Nitrogen from a deer’s urine acts like a fertilizer, encouraging the growth of some nitrogen-loving plants. Seed dispersal by deer through their droppings is significant, producing new plants, according to ecologist/biologist Mark Vellend. Deer should be regarded as assets for their contributions, not liabilities.

Deer have earned a specific type of loyalty. Few wild animals are treasured so quietly, according to Erica Howsare in her book, “The Age of Deer.” They are known for their quiet, peaceful nature, a characteristic to which we humans should strive to aspire.

Sadly, though, the irrational hatred of wild animals is endemic in society. Author and British journalist Amelia Thomas said that humans possess a “consistent, almost determined failure to understand the animals with which we share our world.” In the interest of empathy, compassion, respect, decency and fairness, we need to examine the inner worlds of animals who deserve our full understanding and protection. They have worth in themselves, no matter how we see them.

The same lethal response that has perpetuated the 28-year-long cycle of violence against these vilified animals is based on fear of one kind or another, fueled by so much misrepresentation. Critical thinking is key. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall said, “Listen to others, but do not become a blind follower.”

Bridget W. Irons

Chestnut Hill

Co-founder, Philadelphia Advocates for the Deer (PAD)