THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 7, 1996 TAG: 9610040006
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 27 lines
In MetroNews of Sept. 24, I read with sadness and disgust your article ``Birds hit with darts.'' What sort of person could commit such a sadistic deed? In this overpopulated area it is so great to see ducks, herons and other wildlife settle so close to people.
In our back yard we feed birds and squirrels, have a few wild bunnies who eat seed sprouts under the bird-feeders, and an occasional opossum. Over the years we have planted trees to provide shade and attract more birds. We have birdbaths in the front yard and the back yard. One very cold winter I placed a dish of apple slices out every night for ``our'' opossum. Every morning we found only the apple peels.
We are not fortunate enough to have ducks or other water birds. We see them only when driving by neighborhoods with a lake or man-made canal. Or in cool weather when we make day trips to beautiful places like Back Bay Wildlife Refuge.
But your article about the ducks having been shot with darts really shook me up. What makes some kids and/or adults so cruel and twisted?
AVERA C. SIMS
Virginia Beach, Sept. 25, 1996 by CNB