Dear Editor,
Re: “Time to cull raccoons,” Letters, Feb. 7
A recently published letter blames raccoons for the current blighted conditions on lawns across Richmond. Indeed these conditions are seen all across the Metropolitan area.
The writer suggests that the taxpayer foot the bill for cleaning up this eyesore. Well, I, for one, do object. I have lived in Richmond since the late 1960s. As an immigrant, I found a diverse community including raccoons, crows and, apparently, European chafer beetles. This latter is an unwelcome introduced guest.
The real reason that it has spread so far is related to another recent immigrant, the absentee landlord. This “pest” is indeed a blight. Erecting marble-faced monuments to personal wealth and selfishness while exhibiting total disregard for community involvement or sensitivity to responsible property ownership.
The neglect of ornamental lawns by this class of invasive species has destroyed the common good that our neighbourhoods once displayed: the venerable front lawn.
I say the taxpayer should drive out these careless vandals of community values. Perhaps a bait program or some sort of punitive tax regime would get to the roots of the problem.
Leave the raccoons out of this equation — they were here first.
Ewan Quirk
RICHMOND
