But hectic and phone bound.
In Love & Light
Markess
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PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION
From: Citizens Against Irrational Deer Slaughter (CAIDS)
Contacts: Attorney David Mandell (608) 256-7765, 256-7723)
Linda Derrickson or Mark Kessenich (Landowners, Farmers, B & B Owners,
Linda is also Town of Vermont Treasurer, Mark is a Hunter) (608) 437-4141
Mark Sherven (Landowner, Farmer, Hunter, Town of Vermont Plan Commissioner)
(608) 437-3732
John Barnes, Local Veterinarian (608) 845-6026
An organization known as "CAIDS" has been formed to respond to the DNR's proposed deer extermination within a targeted circle in parts of western Dane County and eastern Iowa County. "CAIDS" stands for Citizens Against Irrational Deer Slaughter.
According to CAIDS attorney, David Mandell, the group will be working on several fronts to provide people in Wisconsin with alternatives to the DNR plan of herd extermination in the target zone near Mount Horeb. CAIDS members want to slow the process to allow time for research into the disease to determine a mode of transmission. Mandell says the DNR admits they are not aware of the mode or method of transmission of CWD, if any.
The DNR acknowledges they have not considered any other alternative to extermination. CAIDS feels there has not been enough public input taken into account for such a drastic DNR management measure.
Anyone sharing our concern and/or wanting to join our network can contact one of the above with your name and address. Additionally, if you would like to participate in meetings, conferences or other forms of direct advocacy, your email or telephone number will be needed.
CAIDS is concerned about the economic impact of the purposed slaughter on our community. Some of our questions/ concerns are:
--How will a summer "hunt/slaughter?" affect businesses that depend on visitors that come here for our bike trails, parks, scenic beauty, Little Norway, Tyrol Basin weddings, local restaurants, gift shops, lodging, etc.
--Why should this sacrifice be asked with no data to support that it will be effective, plus some data to suggest that it won't work.
CAIDS is concerned about the feasibility & safety of slaughtering 15,000 animals during the summer months in this rugged, heavily foliated terrain. Some of our questions/concerns are:
--Will all the bodies be tested? Is this even possible within the 24 hrs required to do testing?
--Can the hunters realistically haul the carcasses out through the heavy brush?
--Where will they take the carcasses? Landfill? Cremation? Where?
--If they don't haul them out, what are the impacts of leaving them on our land? What will eat the bodies?
--What will the large coyote and wild dog population eat when the deer are gone? Is there a risk for children? livestock? pets? Will they move closer to homes & villages seeing food for themselves and their young?
--What are the risks of shooting accidents? Human? Livestock?
--How long did the slaughter of 512 animals take this past winter during the "test hunt"?
--How long will it take to slaughter 15,000 animals with heavy foliation in the summer?
--How many of the deer will simply run out of the targeted zone to other areas?
CAIDS is concerned about the environmental impacts of the purposed DNR plan of mass slaughtering deer in the target area. Some of our questions/ concerns are:
--What are the environmental impacts of wiping out a species in a specific locality?
--What new imbalances in our ecosystem will be created?
--How will domesticated animals react to low-flying helicopters and prolonged rifle fire. Will cows abort, for example? Will they break through fences? We donšt even know all the questions to ask.
CAIDS is concerned about the ethical, moral, spiritual and human health issues regarding the DNR plan of mass slaughtering deer in the target area. Some of our questions/ concerns are:
--How does the massive slaughter of a species that has provided a bond of community and culture affect the mental and emotional health of our citizens?
--How does a prolonged "out-of-season" hunt affect our ability to recreate and enjoy our land?
--Is slaughter of does with fawns a conscionable deed?
--Are we loosing sight of our humanity when so little is known about the outcome?
There are many reasons that hunting of deer has been a fall/winter activity in Wisconsin. Primary of these is safety. Deer should be hunted when leaves are off the trees and deer can be clearly seen. The possibility of shooting accidents in the summer due to low visibility within the woods is too high to risk. This is a time when area residents and visitors are out walking the land, enjoying nature, farming, fishing and many other rural activities including the grazing of farm animals in pastures and woodlands.
If our deer are slaughtered, neighboring deer will naturally move in where there is no competition for space and food. When this happens, there is evidence to show that the new population will also get the disease. This does NOT prove anything about whether it is contagious, but it does raise logical concerns that eradication does not solve the problem.
CAIDS want researchers to look at the whole range of environmental factors, diet, pollutants, soil composition, stress, crowding, etc. as possible causes. In humans, cancer shows up in much greater numbers in certain communities, yet the disease is not contagious. You could kill all the people and bring in new ones and they would still get cancer.
There are several "hypotheses", but no one knows exactly what causes CWD. The present sampling of Wisconsin deer is very very small. There is no historical data before 1999 in Wisconsin. CAIDS members ask: why should we slaughter the deer when we do not have enough information to know whether a slaughter will in the long term solve the situation or make it worse?
In fact, it is not certain we even have a problem. The disease may have existed here for 100's of years. What the DNR has labeled as a "problem" may simply be nature's way of balancing the current over-population of deer. One solution could be to allow nature to take its course. Nature works slowly, but with long-term results. Humans are an impatient species and this current proposed "solution" is a good example. CAIDS believes the DNR proposal is too soon, too fast and too risky.
Meanwhile, there are many courses of action that can be pursued:
--Banning of feeding/baiting stations
--Banning of mineral blocks and all types of supplements
--Decreasing the herd by allowing landowners permission to take more deer during season (without charging them)
--Allowing an additional season for landowners in January
--Funding research into a wide range of environmental factors
--Extensive testing of many animals in all parts of the state
--Involvement of land owners, hunters, local governments and CAIDS in decisions about CWD, both locally and nationally
CAIDS is developing a web site for citizens to learn about the group and ways they can lend their support. It will be ready sometime on May 14th or soon thereafter. The site will include a petition that supporters can down-load and circulate.
Citizens can also support this effort by contacting their state legislators who will be voting next week on allocating approximately 2 million dollars to the DNRšs plan of mass slaughter. CAIDS believe that money could be better spent on some of the alternative approaches outlined above.
--Prepared by Linda Derrickson and approved by Steering Committee of CAIDS
