PLEASE CROSS POST
Committee To Abolish Sport Hunting
PO BOX 13815, LAS CRUCES, NM 88013-3815
(575) 640-7372
CASH@AbolishSportHunting.com
www.AbolishSportHunting.com
VICTORY UPDATE March 6, 2012
The Waterford, MI trustees did not pass the swan killing resolution!
Please thank the trustees for not supporting swan killing
Carl W. Solden, Township Supervisor elesnau@twp.waterford.mi.us
Kari Vlaeminck, Clerk kvlaemin@twp.waterford.mi.us
Margaret Birch mbirch@twp.waterford.mi.us
February 28, 2012
~~ ACTION ALERT ~~
Mute Swans Under Attack
URGENT ACTION NEEDED
MUTE SWANS UNDER ATTACK…Contact the Waterford, Michigan, Borad of Trustees and urge them to seek non-lethal means of resolving their problems.
n Monday, February 27 the Board of Trustees introduced a resolution supporting the destruction of swan eggs and the slaughter of swans living on two-dozen or more lakes.The Township claims that there is an increasing need for different techniques to resolve swan mute problems but its resolution centers on violence and killing.
Mute swans often interfere with hunters who seek to kill animals such as Canada geese by keeping the population of geese under control in areas where the swans reside. With swans present Canada goose populations will not increase and hunters will not be able to blast away at the harmless birds as much as they would like to.
PLEASE CONTACT THE WATERFORD BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND *POLITELY* URGE THEM TO EXPLORE NON-LETHAL METHODS AT ADDRESSING ANY REAL OR PERCEIVED PROBLEMS WITH MUTE SWANS.
Carl W. Solden, Township Supervisor – elesnau@twp.waterford.mi.us
Kari Vlaeminck, Clerk – kvlaemin@twp.waterford.mi.us
Margaret Birch – mbirch@twp.waterford.mi.us
The following trustes should be contacted through the Township’s general e-mail contact form: http://www.twp.waterford.mi.us/Reference-Desk/Comments-Suggestions.aspx
Or you can contact them at their homes (their home phone numbers are listed on the Waterford Township website)
Anthony M. Bartolotta, Trustee (248) 980-4677 Home
David J. Kramer, Trustee (248) 933-2733 Home
David J. Maloney, Trustee (248) 623-7933 Home
Bette O’Shea, Trustee (248) 877-7342 Home
Pasted below is the Township’s mute swan resolution, followed by a sample letter
CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF WATERFORD
MUTE SWANS
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, there is an increasing need for different techniques to resolve swan mute problems, and
WHEREAS, nest destruction and egg removal are effective tools to control site-specific nuisance mute swans, and
WHEAREAS, it is required, under authority of Act 451 of PA 1994, as amended, to gather and euthanize the captured mute swans by approved methods, and
WHEAREAS, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has set forth guidelines for obtaining permits that allow remove and destruction of mute swan eggs, nest and for the euthanasia of captured mute swan, and
WHEAREAS, lake associations, private residents and business owners, subdivisions and property owners may submit appropriate paperwork to the DNR Wildlife Division and are responsible for adhering to the requirements under that permit,
NOW, THEREFORE, BET IT RESOLVED. That Waterford Township approves Egg Destruction and Euthanasia Permits for invasive mute swans for five years (2012-2017), including but not limited to, Angelus, Cass, Clam, Eagle, Elizabeth, Geneva, Huntoon, Loon, Lotus, Maceday, Morgan, Oakland, Otter, Pleasant, Pontiac, Schoolhouse, Scott, Silver, Sylvan, Van Norman, on the Lakes, Watkins, Williams, and Woodhull Lakes. Further, that the applicant must apply annually through the DNR Mute Swan Program.
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Dear Mr. Solden and the Waterford Board of Trustees:
I was saddened to learn that Waterford Township is considering killing mute swans and destroying their eggs and nests, despite the birds not posing a threat to public health or safety. There are a plethora of non-violent solutions to waterfowl issues and there are surely several that would address the problems that the Township claims to exist. Please resist the urge to unquestioningly accept the advice of those who represent the hunting and “wildlife management” industries, as their viewpoints are biased toward hunting and killing.
Swans should not be exterminated to serve those who seek to kill other wildlife. Please scrap any and all plans to bring violence upon mute swans and in their place implement only peaceful and non-violent methods of swan control.
Sincerely…