Highlights of what we’ve been up to

C.A.S.H./WILDLIFE WATCH WORKS WITH ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE

Wildlife Watch worked with Assemblyman Joel Miller, R- Hyde Park, NY who agreed to sponsor our change in the depredation permitting process. Wildlife Watch would like to see the depredation permitting process open to public scrutiny, and ideally subject to public hearings prior to the game agency’s issuing a permit.

We met with NY State Assemblyman Joel M. Miller of the 97th Assembly District of NY State to discuss legislation to rein in an especially heinous abuse of the “depredation” permit-to kill deer outside of the regular hunting season.

Depredation permits are usually granted by state agencies to farmers or orchard operators who claim a loss due to deer damage of their crops.

The NY State DEC hands out these permits like lollypops. In a previous issue of the C.A.S.H. Courier, we reported that an applicant in Dutchess County whose farm had been defunct for over five years, received a depredation permit based on claims of financial loss of his farm product. He used the permit to legally hunt out of season, killing a doe who was nursing two fawns. One of the fawns was found dead trying to suckle, the other fawn was wandering around until rescued by a neighbor. It was at that point that we were notified.

Assemblyman Miller, after meeting with us, drafted a bill that requires more scrutiny on the part of the DEC before issuing depredation permits. It also requires the DEC to post all applications for depredation permits on their web-site so that they become public knowledge.

According to Assemblyman Miller, the bill was introduced too late to be acted on this session – but he did agree to reintroduce it next year. P.M.

Cormorant meeting at the office of Sen. Hillary Clinton. See page 2.

C.A.S.H. mailed a postcard alert to our Ohio list based on a post that we received in which the US Sportsmen’s Alliance announced that “Sunday Hunting was on the Way.” Claiming that the US Sportsmen’s Alliance led a coalition of Ohio Sportsmen to ‘expand the state’s outdoor heritage’ and claiming that the Ohio legislature passed a bill to permit Sunday hunting without private land restrictions. We quickly did a mailing to our members. We wanted our list to be sure to call the Governor to stop Bill 493 from passing. It sounded to us, prior to checking thoroughly, that private landowner rights could be violated should this pass, but that was not the reality of the bill. The bill, nevertheless, allowed for more hunting than before thanks to Rep. Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green). We should give full credit to him also (you know what I mean). It stated: “The bill removes all private land restrictions during hunting seasons including the requirement that the landowners must have 20 or more acres to hunt on Sunday.” You can see what triggered our concern and the person who sent us the e-mail, and thus our quick turn-around.

The bill also removes the restriction that non-owners only be allowed to hunt on property over 100 acres. They applauded

that fact that “sportsmen’ can now hunt on Sunday without dealing with unnecessary and burdensome red tape.”

We wrote to our Ohio supporters: “IF YOU MAKE NO OTHER CONTACT WITH YOUR GOVERNOR, PLEASE MAKE THIS ONE!!!!” The Bill, unfortunately, was signed into law.

C.A.S.H./WILDLIFE WATCH WORKS IN THE FIELD—
OPERATES “HOTLINE”

Wildlife Watch operates a hotline to give advice to people such as determining if baby birds are fledging and if so to reunite them with the parents to making sure that a fawn has a mom before “rescuing” the fawn. We also offer feeding and care advise when possible. Additionally, when needed and where feasible, we help to get animals to rehabbers with our Rescue Wagon. The sign reads, “Report injured or orphaned wildlife to 256-1400” Serving Ulster, Rockland, Orange (we should add Dutchess). Sometimes we have to take direct action as you can see below.

Peter cutting a snake out of deer-netting.
Photo by Anne Muller

Our direct help with transportation, help with capture, or direct care has benefited hawks, song birds, bunnies, and opossums

BONNIE THE BUNNY. This bunny was found in a storm with an upside down head. We drove down to get her, got her to veterinarians, and she is now with rehabilitators in Kingston, NY who are trying various holistic remedies to reverse her very severe head tilt. Thank you to Abby Wolf and the House Rabbit Society for many helpful suggestions.

Wildlife Watch was called in to investigate a massive die-off of birds and other wildlife in Highland NY. We had their bodies delivered to the NYS Pathologist and we are awaiting their response.

When an e-mail came to us regarding the fact that Kohl’s and Linens and Things in Brewster, NY were planning to prematurely remove the nests of swallows, we spread the word and contacted the owners of the center. After being inundated with calls, the center called us to say they would NOT be removing the nests until after the birds have fledged. We suggested putting metallic fringes along the area where they nest to keep them from renesting there in the future. The birds apparently were getting into the stores. Thanks to Alice Mainiero for getting in touch with us.

Where is the DEC when it comes to animals that can’t be hunted? Nowhere to be found!

Peter Muller – Gave a presentation and tabled for LOHV – League of Humane Voters – at AR2002 in Washington, D.C.

WILDLIFE WATCH EDUCATES THE PUBLIC

Pulin Modi interned at Wildlife Watch/ C.A.S.H. during his senior year at Vassar. He did a wonderful outreach to students of all ages, particularly the early grades – Pulin arranged for about 10 Earth Day (week) outreach events from second graders to university students and even at the Capitol Building in Albany at an environmental rally.

Pulin tabled and also gave presentations with Wildlife Watch/C.A.S.H. materials that included a petitioning effort to remove sections of the NYS budget that would lower the big game hunting age to 14. Lowering the hunting age had been attempted by Michael Bragman and we thought it was put to rest when Bragman left the Assembly, but then discovered this in the Governor’s budget. Thanks to pressure from a number of animal rights groups, that section was removed before the budget was signed. Pulin also petitioned to suspend hunting this year in the wake of terrorist attacks on the U.S.;

In the June 2002 issue of the NYSCC New York State Conservation Council it says:

“The state has finally passed a budget and the new license fee bill is law. …The Conservation

Fund is secure again. Legislators turned down the bill allowing 14 and 15 year-olds to hunt big game during the regular season. Many of the legislators stood with the antihunting arguments that young hunters are not responsible and can not be trusted to handle guns safely. Some even compared young hunters to the crazy Columbine students. We will need lots of letters and calls from parents and relatives of young hunters next year to win them the right to hunt. It is sad that the Governor and Senate leaders gave up or caved in on our deal.”

Connie Young is now the Outreach Director for C.A.S.H. /Wildlife Watch and is using her great writing skills to write letters on behalf of C.A.S.H. issues all over the country as we get requests. Her very first letter was written to the Audubon Magazine and was published ! Thank you to Carole Gilges of Virginia (formerly of Connecticut) for alerting us to the dismal pro-hunting letter that appeared in the Audubon Magazine.

Connie’s original letter exposed the mismanagement of wildlife by the FWS and state game agencies that WANT AN OVERPOPULATION of “game” species. That was excluded from the letter they published.

As published in the 5/2002 Audubon Magazine

DEER IN THE
HEADLIGHTS

It is a sad forest that Ted Williams exalts in “Wanted: More Hunters” [Incite, March-April]. In it, hunters assume the role of wolves and cougars (incidentally, killed off by hunters), and deer are killed to rid the world of Lyme disease. Natural predators kill the weakest and sickest members of prey species; human hunters prefer the best-as trophies. By removing the least fit, natural predators improve gene pools. By killing the healthiest and strongest-and leaving the most diseased-hunters weaken the species’ gene pool. Williams writes, “Less than 10 percent of the public are hunters.” In truth, it is about 6 percent: a tiny special-interest group linked to the weapons industry that helps fund wildlife management. Killing has never been a good ethical answer. May I remind you: We are not gods.

Constance Young
Wildlife Watch Inc.
New Paltz, NY

WILDLIFE WATCH WORKS WITH TOWNS

Good news! The Supervisor of South Fallsburg assured us that there will be no killing of geese there. We confirmed that

with the town golf courses.

WILDLIFE WATCH WORKS JUDICIALLY

Wildlife Watch and Ann Fanizzi, met with the Lake Casse board members – sadly to no avail. They were going to kill.

(Photo-Left – Anne and Ann Fanizzi, petitioning in Lake Casse to stop the slaughter of geese. Not one person knew it was going to happen.)

Wildlife Watch brought a lawsuit in Carmel, NY to stop the killing of Canada geese. The Order to Show Cause was written by Peter and Anne Muller, and Ann Fanizzi, with great help from Del Seligman, Esq. Peter argued the case pro se.

er=”0″ />

Ann Fanizzi and Peter viewing the lake and geese who had not yet been taken. Photo by Anne Muller

WILDLIFE WATCH/C.A.S.H. WORKS
ADMINISTRATIVELY

See DEIS

The Wildlife Watch Annual Meeting was held on June 9th in New Paltz NY. The food was catered by Vagabond Cafe, a vegan restaurant in New Paltz. Thank you to the following people for coming:

Andy Glick, Brian Shapiro, Frank and Mary Hoffman, Gregg Feigelson, Abby Wolf, Rachel Lagodka, Silvie Lagodka, Donna Quiros and Tony Ferranto, Rae Schlect, Harry and Sue Bourletos, Ann Fanizzi, Connie Young, Peter Muller, Anne Muller, Lee Sneden, Celia Lindblom, Linda Vassilatos, Scott Wilson, Sharon Cahr. THANK YOU ALL!

Eric Roth is an archivist for the Huguenot Society of New Paltz. He is using his great organizing skills at C.A.S.H. to help us keep archives and records for people who wish to do research in the area of wildlife mismanagement.

TATA – A 54 YEAR OLD CROW

Tata – the 54 year old crow – now blind and arthritic, with a heart condition.

Anne Muller, editor of the Courier, had the pleasure of serving the DEC late at night with a signed restraining order obtained by Del Seligman, Esq. preventing the DEC from killing Tata, along with a hawk. Del Seligman, Esq. Who is an animal rights attorney extraordinaire won the restraining order after the bird was confiscated by the DEC from Kristine Flones, wildlife rehabilitator extraordinaire. The DEC said because Tata was too old to be released and because he was blind, and arthritic he should die. Tata lived with a family for 50 years. They found him as a youngster, and Tata could never fly. As Tata’s family is also up in years now, and as Tata needs more than routine care, they turned him over to Kristine Flones. When the DEC caught wind of it, they were there to kill Tata. This agency needs a TOTAL OVERHAUL!!!!!!!

The DEC finally, because of all the bad publicity that they were given, is allowing Tata to stay with Kristine.

FOLLOW-UP

The good news is that elk will not be introduced in NY. The bad news is that it is because of chronic wasting disease (CWD).

In fact, the NY Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is GONE. Their website says “Page cannot be found.” Check the website. In our next newsletter, we will be reporting more on the horror of Chronic Wasting Disease that is devastating deer and elk out west, and has been travelling eastward.