MA: Sportsmen, activists square off on wildlife control, hunting

[JonJ]

http://www.telegram.com/article/20070918/NEWS/709180695/1008/NEWS02

Sep 18, 2007

Sportsmen, activists square off on wildlife control, hunting

By Bradford L. Miner TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
[email protected]


SPENCER— More than a dozen bills pertaining to wildlife spawned wide-ranging testimony yesterday afternoon at the Wire Village School auditorium.

Sportsmen and animal rights activists from the Berkshires to Boston converged for a hearing of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture.

The wildlife bills dealt primarily with measures to further control beaver, coyote, deer and moose populations, while related bills proposed reorganizing the former Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Environmental Law Enforcement, now the Department of Fish and Game, and establishing a Wildlife Management Commission.


For three hours, a majority of the members of the Joint Committee listened to views on specific bills such as prohibiting fishing tackle containing lead, allowing Sunday hunting and requiring the written permission of the landowner before hunting or trapping on private land.

For all those who testified on behalf of relaxing existing laws governing the management of beaver, coyote, deer and moose, an equal number explained why they should strongly oppose expansion of hunting or trapping.

Kara Holmquist, director of advocacy for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said the majority of residents across the state place high value on having one day a week when they feel safe walking in the woods, enjoying wildlife viewing, nature photography hiking and the solitude of the woods.

State Rep. Anne M. Gobi, D-Spencer, said she had filed the bill on behalf of a Templeton constituent who works Monday through Saturday and enjoys hunting.

“This legislation would not allow blanket Sunday hunting throughout the state, but would designate specific areas where those who are unable to hunt on weekdays or Saturday because of work obligations would be able to enjoy hunting on Sunday,” she said.

Emily Norton, an environmental science teacher from Wayland, spoke on behalf of legislation she proposed that would prohibit the use of lead fishing tackle.

Several present, including Harry Vogel, senior biologist and executive director of the Loon Preservation Committee, testified about the effect of lead fishing tackle on loon mortality in New Hampshire.

Ms. Norton identified lead as the most common cause of poisoning in humans and wildlife, noting recent headlines about lead-painted toys and the potential impact on children.

“It’s a win-win situation for all concerned if something other than lead is substituted for fishing gear,” she said.

Dr. Mark Pokras, a veterinarian at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in Grafton, said that while the loon populations of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine are far greater than those of Massachusetts, of the nine loon carcasses examined at Tufts during a 12-month period, three of the deaths were attributed to lead poisoning.

“This is nothing new,” Dr. Pokras told legislators, adding, “More than 200 years ago, Ben Franklin was calling for the removal of lead from the marketplace.”

With respect to beaver, the majority of those present voiced opposition to any expansion of trapping regulations and spoke about expanding the use of conibear traps and flow-control devices.

Most said that killing beaver or coyotes to control their respective populations had the opposite effect.

Several legislators representing districts in Worcester and Berkshire counties noted that constituents had come forward with anecdotes about beaver that had damaged property or presented a public health threat with the contamination of private water supplies with giardia.

“One thing is abundantly clear,” said state Rep. Denis E. Guyer, D-Dalton. “Whatever we’ve been doing isn’t working.”

Stephanie Hagopian of the Humane Society of the United States replied that several agencies were ready to help property owners find long-term solutions to conflicts with wildlife species.

State Sen. Pamela P. Resor, D-Acton, said she was pleased with the turnout.

“We try to do this two or three times a year,” she said, adding that having classes from the Wire Village School observing the hearing as it was taking place was an added bonus.

She noted the divergent opinions and said the committee would take all the testimony into account.

Ms. Gobi said that despite some widely divergent opinions, she was optimistic the committee could find some common ground.

“There’s no way that you’re going to make everyone happy, but we definitely have to balance the rights of property owners with the management of the state’s wildlife resources,” she said.

 

[Admin]

Most said that killing beaver or coyotes to control their respective populations had the opposite effect.

 

[KMaurer]

Most said that killing beaver or coyotes to control their respective populations had the opposite effect.

Whatever else has been going on, we should all congratulate Mr. Vogel of the Loon Preservation Committee for having done such a bang up job. There's absolutely no dearth of loons around this state. His group must be slaughtering them by the thousands every day to generate such an abundance of lunacy.

Ken

 

[Adam_MA]

beaver

Mmmmmm beaver

beaver

he said beaver

Kara Holmquist, director of advocacy for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said the majority of residents across the state place high value on having one day a week when they feel safe walking in the woods, enjoying wildlife viewing, nature photography hiking and the solitude of the woods.

That's it whore, you're on the list!

Emily Norton, an environmental science teacher from Wayland, spoke on behalf of legislation she proposed that would prohibit the use of lead fishing tackle.

You too!

Several present, including Harry Vogel, senior biologist and executive director of the Loon Preservation Committee, testified about the effect of lead fishing tackle on loon mortality in New Hampshire.

Hey dink boy, this is MA!

With respect to beaver,

ALWAYS respect beaver

Most said that killing beaver

OH NO! NEVER!

anecdotes about beaver

I could tell you some doozies!

Stephanie Hagopian of the Humane Society of the United States replied that several agencies were ready to help property owners find long-term solutions to conflicts with wildlife species.

I got a solution for you bitch, and once THEY have thumbs, and are on top of the food chain they can take it into their own paws!

Ms. Gobi said that despite some widely divergent opinions, she was optimistic the committee could find some common ground.

 

[JonJ]

 

[M.J.]

 

[Firetarr]

I'm goin' beaver "hunting" tonight


Heh, Heh he said BEAVER !

 

[KMaurer]

Adam, baby, don't hold it in so much. Tell us just what you really think.

Ken

 

[MrsWildweasel]

Adam, baby, don't hold it in so much. Tell us just what you really think.

Ken

No kidding.

 

[jamz]

I have an easy solution.. On sunday, you are allowed to hunt with a firearm... but only for fish. With steel core ammo.

Hunting beavers would become legal... but only using lead slugs!

 

[matt1956]

I'd like to nominate Adam for "Post of the year"

that had me freaking dying...

mmmmm.... beaver

 

[matt1956]

"Nice beaver... when did you have it stuffed?"