評論
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In America, white-tailed deer are more numerous than ever before,
在美國，白尾鹿的數量創到歷史新高，它們的數量如此龐大，
so abundant in fact that they've become a suburban nuisance and a health hazard.
以至于它們事實上已經給郊區居民帶來了困擾，并對其健康造成了潛在的威脅。
Why can't the herd be thinned the old-fashioned way?
鹿群的數量為什么不能用老辦法削減呢？
The small community of North Haven on Long Island is home to some six hundred to seven hundred deer.
長島北天堂小區如今生活著大約六七百只鹿。
The Department of Environmental Conservation estimates the optimum population at 60.
據環境保護署估計，鹿的最佳數量為60只。
The town has been browsed bare of vegetation, except where gardens and shrubs are protected by high fences.
如今，除了受到高柵欄保護的公園和灌木叢，小鎮的植被已被吃得一毛不剩。
Drivers routinely collide with deer
司機們還經常與鹿相撞，
and there are so many dead bodies left by the side of the road
導致路邊常常橫陳著大量鹿的尸體，
that the town has made it a deal with a local pet cemetery to collect and dispose of the bodies.
結果小鎮不得不與當地的寵物公墓達成協議，由他們收集并處理尸體。
Some people in the town have become ill from deer-transmitted diseases.
一些鎮民染上了鹿傳播疾病。
On the occasions when hunting has been tried,
人們曾嘗試用打獵來解決問題，
local animal rights people have worked to secure court orders against the hunts.
于是當地動物權益保護人士試圖請求法院發布捕獵禁令。
And when that is failed, they stop the hunters, banging on pots and pans to alert the deer.
這一努力失敗以后，他們開始通過敲擊鍋碗瓢盆向鹿發出警報，以阻止獵人們的獵殺。
Town meetings called to discuss the problem inevitably dissolved into confrontations.
討論此問題的市鎮會議無一例外地以沖突告終。
The activists believe simply that the deer are not the problem.
活躍分子簡單地認為鹿根本不是問題。
Some communities have even discussed the possibility of bringing wolves back into the ecological mix.
一些人甚至討論了將狼重新引入生物圈的可能性。
That means wolves in the suburbs of New York.
這意味著狼群進入紐約郊區。
It is almost too wonderful not to try it.
不嘗試這個辦法，真得值得喝彩。
The wolves would kill deer, of course.
當然，狼會將鹿殺死。
They would also terrorize and kill dogs and cats which is not what the suburban dwellers have in mind.
但他們同時也會殺死貓狗等當地居民不愿殺死的動物。
