Ask Uncle Joe – Spring 2011
BY JOE MIELE
GOT A QUESTION FOR UNCLE JOE?
YOU CAN E-MAIL IT TO ASKUNCLEJOE@HOTMAIL.COM .
WOULD YOU RATHER SNAIL MAIL YOUR QUESTION? SEND IT TO: ASK UNCLE JOE, C/O WILDLIFE WATCH, BOX 562, NEW PALTZ, NY 12561.
UNCLE JOE GETS A LOT OF MAIL SO DON’T BE OFFENDED IF HE CANNOT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION IN THE COURIER. HECK, HE’S GOTTA WORK A DAY JOB, TOO.
Letters are printed as received. They are unedited.
Dear readers: More of Uncle Joe” can be found online at:www.abolishsporthunting.org/UncleJoe
Dear Uncle Joe:
I am not a hunter and I share your organization’s overall view on the issue, but I am disappointed with some of the things posted on your Facebook page by some of your “friends.” Many of the comments express an incredible amount of negativity and ill-will toward hunters. People are animals too and should be given respect even if their values differ from ours. It is not my wish to cause a stir, only to bring to light that the representation of your organization on its Facebook page is, I hope, out of line with your organization’s mission.
Sincerely,
Mary
Midland, TX
Dear Mary:
Thanks for the feedback! I understand that you’re troubled by some of the comments posted to our Facebook page. As with any public forum there are going to be comments made by some people whose opinions differ from our own. We understand the frustrations of those who work tirelessly to protect wildlife from hunters and others who abuse them, and we also understand that for many people, venting these frustrations is cathartic. Our Facebook page is intended to be a place where information can be shared and like-minded people can communicate. We do not necessarily stand behind or agree with everything posted to the page, but we will not allow racist, homophobic, misogynistic, or pro-hunting comments to remain on our page. That’s where we draw the line.
Peace,
Uncle Joe
————————-
Dear Uncle Joe:
People like you should be ashamed of yourselves. I was reading on your web page and noticed something in common with all you trapping stories. They were all illegal sets. You shouldn’t be against trapping, but against poaching. Or if you’ve ever seen the effect on coyotes here because of over population you might change your mind. In fact I shot two coyotes last Monday and both were almost hairless because of the mange on there bodies. I would rather trap and shoot them then have them starve to death or die a long death by disease spread by over population. But what do I know…..Im only a conservationist.
Just so you know here’s my take for the month… 15 bobcats pelts, 10 kit fox pelts, 3 red fox pelts, 23 coyotes pelts, and 52 muskrats pelts. Nice antelope shot with a bow. Didnt get a deer but did shoot a nice tom mountian lion (it will make a lovely rug). 307 geese shot this year between me and a few buddies. 42 ducks (didnt have time to hunt them to much because I was trapping). a few hundred jack rabbits. (me and a cousin shot over 300 in one night on thier ranch, we call this bunny blasting). It has just been an awesome season.
Skip,
Cottonwood, CA
Dear Skip:
Poaching and legal hunting is pretty much the same thing. When the distinction between the two can be nothing more than a wristwatch that is set 5 minutes fast, I have a hard time thinking one is any different than the other. And lest you think it’s just a few bad apples killing animals illegally – think again. In a 9/12/2010 article published by the Sacramento Bee, state game wardens estimated that only five percent of poachers are caught. In 2009, there were 3,400 violations handed out – meaning that another 64,600 violations took place that went undetected. With roughly 250,000 hunters in California, the numbers indicate that more than twenty-five percent of hunters do so illegally.
And yes, I’ve heard the “gotta kill them so they don’t suffer – nature is cruel” argument before. But I’m asking you to think about it and not merely repeat it just because you heard someone say it a few times. Cancer, leprosy and AIDS can do some pretty cruel things to people, so why don’t you feel the need to “manage” people with those diseases? They are suffering, no? Go to a children’s cancer center and kill the suffering kids if you are so upset with nature being cruel. It’s certainly more important to end the suffering of children than that of coyotes, no?
And with no bag or season limits on coyote killing, it’s clear that hunting is not helping to prevent the spread of disease.
Do yourself and the public a favor – make an appointment with a psychiatrist to address your violent behavior and bring a copy of this e-mail with you to show how many animals you’ve needlessly killed and how much you’ve enjoyed doing so. Hopefully that will be the first step toward getting the help you so desperately need.
Peace,
Uncle Joe
————————-
Dear Uncle Joe:
This may be a stupid question, but is there a humane way to prevent the birds I feed from pooping all over my husband’s car and our walkway? My husband wants to take out the bird feeders and bird baths but my cat Sidney and I derive so much enjoyment from watching them that I would hate to see them leave. Please tell me that you can help! Thank you and everyone at C.A.S.H. for all you do.
Melissa,
Davenport, IA
Dear Melissa:
That’s not a stupid question at all. In fact, I’m glad you turned to us. There’s good news and bad news about your situation, so let’s get the bad news out of the way first. As long as you have bird feeders you’ll have birds doing their business under them. The world’s greatest ornithologists tell us that what goes in a bird must come out, and since Sir Isaac Newton figured out that gravity pulls things toward the earth, that stuff coming out of the birds you love to watch is going to land on the ground.
But there are several things that can prevent your property from becoming a mess. First, relocate the feeders to an area where the mess will be less annoying. Next, most gardening supply shops will have humane roosting deterrent products. There are many different types and you will have to find the one that works best for you. Some are a series of angled plastic spikes that can be fastened where birds roost. They will not hurt the birds but they will prevent them from having a comfortable place to sit. Others look like a cat lover’s dream – they are little units with flexible wire “arms” that move and bounce in the breeze, thus preventing birds from roosting. Also, please invest in a car cover. That will protect your husband’s car.
I hope this answers your questions, Melissa. Thanks for wanting to take care of your problem in a humane way.
Peace,
Uncle Joe.