To the editor:

Thank you for the article about the importance of not feeding the deer in New Ulm. It is against the law for several very good reasons but for me, the most important reason is that a high density deer population carries deer ticks and deer ticks cause Lyme disease.

Lyme disease can be very serious and debilitating causing a lifetime of health concerns for those with chronic lyme. The best way to avoid the disease is to stay away from the habitat areas of ticks. New Ulm is becoming an area of interest to the State Health Department because of the large number of deer ticks they are finding in this area. The deer population has increased in my backyard over a ten year period. One reason is because citizens of New Ulm feed the deer and, of course, deer will herd up around food. If we did not have such a high deer concentration we would not have to worry about lyme disease. Please do not feed the deer. It is a health hazard.

Elaine Neitzel

New Ulm