Most biology textbooks describe that predators and prey exist in a balance. This "balance of nature" hypothesis has been criticized by some scientists because it suggests a relationship between predators and prey that is good and necessary.

Too many predators and not enough prey leads to predators starving and dying because they can't find enough food. Too many prey and not enough predators leads to the spread of disease and depletion of resources for the prey species and others that live in their habitat.

Had the wolves not been introduced to the island, there is a good change that the deer population would have ultimately died out because there would not have been enough food to support all of the deer present on the island.

Death by predators is the preferred method over death by starvation. When a population is starving, the members of that population will become malnourished and weak. This will lead to an unhealthy population that is more susceptible to disease.

Death by predators is the preferred method over death by starvation. When a population is starving, the members of that population will become malnourished and weak. This will lead to an unhealthy population that is more susceptible to disease.

The fact of the matter is that deer are a prey species and, as such, predators (single-celled, 2-legged, or 4-pawed) have always and will always kill them. It's the very definition of prey — an organism that is killed and eaten by another organism (i.e. predator).