Some very well painted and expensive looking new signs have gone up around Cumberland urging us to end Lyme disease by not feeding the deer. I believe that these signs are inferring that if the deer are not fed, then Lyme disease will somehow be curtailed. However, there are no official studies or statements, that I know of, that show any correlation between deer feeding and the increase or decrease of Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a terrible affliction and I believe that we would be much better informed if the signs instructed us to dress properly against tick infiltration and advised us to do a self-examination for ticks after being outdoors.

I do not feed the deer, but I must admit that they visited my bird feeder several times this winter, when the snow was deep and their food sources were scarce.

Everett White
Cumberland