Valley Forge National Historical Park, located about 20 miles West of Philadelphia, was the site of the 1777-78 winter encampment of the
Continental Army. The park contains historic buildings, encampment structures and museums. It is also home to over 315 species of
animals, with sizable populations of
White-tailed Deer and
Red Fox.
White-tailed Deer, as
cute as they are, have become a
nuisance. With their increasing population, they are held responsible for playing a role in denuding forests, accumulation of
invasive species, destroying gardens, causing lethal motor vehicle accidents and having a significant role in the
Lyme Disease epidemic.
The cycle of extinction and ecological rebalance are just as old as life itself, however, we tend to forget that the human species is fragile and that we thrive in the current equilibrium. If we continue to favor only crops and vegetation that are apparently useful to us, or animals that we
perceive to be cute, we might end up shifting the current ecological balance and beget our own demise.