MATTHEWS, NC- Neighbors are calling on officials to stop a local business’ plan to hunt and kill a family of deer.
The owner of 803 Elizabeth Bed and Breakfast on Elizabeth Lane in Matthews say dozens of deer are ruining the business’ property.
“Who’s going to want to go to your bed and breakfast when all the people around you are going to put up signs ‘Don’t go there! They kill deer, they killed our deer!” said Hudson.
Owner Martha Krauss brought her plan to thin the deer population to town leaders Monday night.
Krauss is asking the town for a Discharge of Firearms Permit so a professional can use a bow and arrows to get rid of the deer.
“What if he doesn’t aim right? Is he going to shoot the babies? Really, you’re going to shoot baby deer! What did you say Bambee?” said Hudson.
Residents in Sardis Plantation are passionate about the deer that roam the area. They see it as living with nature, but Krauss calls the animals a nuisance because they are eating the business’ plants.
Krauss says one of her biggest concerns is the overpopulation of deer on the property. She says it continues to grow and sometimes she sees over 20 deer.
“Don’t make me drag a dead deer out. I’ll put it in front of their house and I will take photos. That will be on their bed and breakfast website. The deer killers,” said Brianna Hudson, a Matthews resident.
Krauss says she’s already tried a homemade recipe to keep the deer away but it hasn’t worked.
Some neighbors are torn. They understand the frustrations of the bed and breakfast and say they’ve seen too many deer get run over.
“The quandary of do we have too many deer and do we need to do something about it versus they’re beautiful and please let them be so we can see them and enjoy them being around us,” said Katie Vandenberge, a Matthews resident.
The Matthews Town Board voted unanimously Monday night to deny the Discharge of Firearms permit.
