Hi, My name is Nethmi Dharmasena and I am part of the Deer Management Committee. If you haven't heard of the Deer Management Committee don't worry. I hadn't either until I was assigned to it as a part of the YLC's - the Youth Leadership Council- initiative to get youth voices on local commissions within Montgomery. It might seem at first glance that the deer management program is only for hunters and those on the Environmental Commission. However, this is not the case. Deer, whether we like it or not, affect all of us. The deer management program has been around for many years and has been working to try and build awareness on this very pressing issue within Montgomery. They aim to control the deer population within Montgomery while simultaneously educating people. Many prevalent issues stem directly from the overpopulation of deer in Montgomery. 
     The Deer Management Committee aims to promote public health, public safety, and overall environmental sustainability. One of the biggest issues is that many people don't understand just how overpopulated Montgomery’s deer population is. According to data (provided by other members of the Deer Management program), scientists consider ten deer per square mile to be sustainable. A couple of years back an infrared scan was conducted which displayed that in Montgomery there are around thirteen to seventy-six deer per square mile. This dramatic influx is extremely dangerous to not only the environment but also to us, as Montgomery's residents. Coming in from the public safety angle, in the past fifteen years, there has been an average of 105 reported cases of a motor vehicle collision involving deers. This statistic only includes the reported cases. Furthermore, over the last ten years, there have been at least forty cases per year within Montgomery. But it's not just us that are affected by the overpopulation of deer. 
     Our environment is suffering due to the overpopulation of deer. Deer prefer native plants and thus they eat all of the native plants and leave open space for invasive species to grow. This results in the rapid growth of invasive and nonnative species while also eradicating any chance of having a "new generation" of native plants and native trees. One of the biggest surprises about the Deer Management committee was the fact that many people -myself included- had no idea it existed. This seems odd since the deer population is such an issue in Montgomery. As of right now, the Deer Management committee is working on raising more awareness about their existence and why Deer must be controlled. Furthermore, they were hoping to get another infrared land survey that would give them more insight on the deer per square mile. With this information, they can better target the most populated areas and proceed accordingly so that the deer per square mile becomes a more sustainable value. One of the strangest things I have learned from my time within the Deer Management program is the fact that if venison is to be used for commercial use, the business must import the meat. Most often this meat is imported from countries like New Zealand or Australia. This almost seems like a waste of money as we have plenty of deer right in our backyard. One of my ideas was maybe talking to a state legislator and those involved in the food business to set up a program in which people can buy and sell deer meat for commercial use, sustainably and safely. It seems doable as many hunters only take one deer for themselves and their family while the rest is donated to the food pantry. Which poses the bigger question: if it's good enough for the food pantry why is it not used commercially? 
     For other students, I would recommend doing a bit of research (there are tons of great sites) on how the Deer population directly affects us and the environment. Even more, if you are a teenager that is getting ready to drive, look up how much your insurance will cost if you live in an area like Montgomery as opposed to another state or town where deer are not a problem. They might be cute, however, they are a problem and as long as we make and then keep people aware of this pressing issue we can begin to take small steps to achieve a more sustainable population of deer.