Comments for The Wildlife Society Blog http://wildlifeprofessional.org/blog A blog by and for wildlife professionals Wed, 08 Sep 2010 01:01:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on “Wild” Horses and Burros Get a Boost in the News by Matthew http://wildlifeprofessional.org/blog/?p=2576&cpage=1#comment-6736 Matthew Wed, 08 Sep 2010 01:01:04 +0000 http://wildlifeprofessional.org/blog/?p=2576#comment-6736 What is your definition of "wild"? They need to have evolved in their current habitat? These horses have been out there for over a hundred years. That's more than fifty generations of horse evolution, more than a hundred seasons of wildlife acculturation. That acculturation leads to genetic interdependencies; insects live on the horses, and then those insects pollinate the plants. Removing a significant portion of that ecosystem could have serious consequences. It's downright odd to see the Wildlife Society's blog seemingly lean in favor of wildlife policy that has no basis in science. What is your definition of “wild”? They need to have evolved in their current habitat?

These horses have been out there for over a hundred years. That’s more than fifty generations of horse evolution, more than a hundred seasons of wildlife acculturation. That acculturation leads to genetic interdependencies; insects live on the horses, and then those insects pollinate the plants. Removing a significant portion of that ecosystem could have serious consequences.

It’s downright odd to see the Wildlife Society’s blog seemingly lean in favor of wildlife policy that has no basis in science.

]]> Comment on “Wild” Horses and Burros Get a Boost in the News by Terri Farley http://wildlifeprofessional.org/blog/?p=2576&cpage=1#comment-6735 Terri Farley Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:46:51 +0000 http://wildlifeprofessional.org/blog/?p=2576#comment-6735 Thanks for following up on the NYT article. Its scope was limited and should have spotlighted damage to rangeland habitat and wildlife, but when BLM hosts reporters, wildlife just doesn't come up. BLM Director Bob Abbey may write op-eds saying roundups are done to“protect wildlife habitat, the horses themselves and the public rangelands from the environmental effects of herd overpopulation,” but if he believes this, he's been in his office too long. Or, he's hoping wildlife advocates will step into the BLM's "let's you and him fight" snare. It's worked with family ranchers who've voted against their own best interests,so why not with environmentalists? I love Nevada's high desert and have observed it afoot for over a decade. Independent contractors paid by-the-horse are unconcerned(and ignorant: brushfire burns were pointed out to me as overgrazing) with wildlife habitat and I've seen the devastating before and after. Bulldozers smash birds, habitat, even ungulates as they widen trails to accomodate trailer trucks. They cover culverts and disturb riparian areas to limit water sources so they can use water traps. Springtime in the Calico Mountains after removal of the wild horses was silent. The interdependence among species is ignored in the rush to make wildlands hospitable to mineral excavation, gas pipelines and commercial livestock operations. BLM depends on the ignorance and laziness of the public. When I questioned DOI Undersecretary Sylvia Baca (former BP executive) face-to-face about high desert conditions and the value of leaving wild horses wild, she shrugged and said "people would have to get out of their cars to see them," as if that was a disincentive instead of an advantage. BLM claims it has asked for evaluation by outside scientists; this would be laughable if the public wasn't lapping it up. This is part of the strategy of Kearns & West, BLM's newly hired PR firm. K&W has a proven record in environmental conflict resolution. Check out which side they are always on. That alone will make your heart drop and I suspect you'll realize, like I have, if the Department of Interior has its way, the gaping hole in our lives will be much larger than a few paragraphs in a newspaper story. Thanks for following up on the NYT article. Its scope was limited and should have spotlighted damage to rangeland habitat and wildlife, but when BLM hosts reporters, wildlife just doesn’t come up.
BLM Director Bob Abbey may write op-eds saying roundups are done to“protect wildlife habitat, the horses themselves and the public rangelands from the environmental effects of herd overpopulation,” but if he believes this, he’s been in his office too long.
Or, he’s hoping wildlife advocates will step into the BLM’s “let’s you and him fight” snare. It’s worked with family ranchers who’ve voted against their own best interests,so why not with environmentalists?
I love Nevada’s high desert and have observed it afoot for over a decade. Independent contractors paid by-the-horse are unconcerned(and ignorant: brushfire burns were pointed out to me as overgrazing) with wildlife habitat and I’ve seen the devastating before and after. Bulldozers smash birds, habitat, even ungulates as they widen trails to accomodate trailer trucks. They cover culverts and disturb riparian areas to limit water sources so they can use water traps.
Springtime in the Calico Mountains after removal of the wild horses was silent. The interdependence among species is ignored in the rush to make wildlands hospitable to mineral excavation, gas pipelines and commercial livestock operations.
BLM depends on the ignorance and laziness of the public. When I questioned DOI Undersecretary Sylvia Baca (former BP executive) face-to-face about high desert conditions and the value of leaving wild horses wild, she shrugged and said “people would have to get out of their cars to see them,” as if that was a disincentive instead of an advantage.
BLM claims it has asked for evaluation by outside scientists; this would be laughable if the public wasn’t lapping it up. This is part of the strategy of Kearns & West, BLM’s newly hired PR firm. K&W has a proven record in environmental conflict resolution. Check out which side they are always on. That alone will make your heart drop and I suspect you’ll realize, like I have, if the Department of Interior has its way, the gaping hole in our lives will be much larger than a few paragraphs in a newspaper story.

]]> Comment on Implications of Human-Wildlife Interactions by Mike Rule http://wildlifeprofessional.org/blog/?p=2401&cpage=1#comment-6733 Mike Rule Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:04:36 +0000 http://wildlifeprofessional.org/blog/?p=2401#comment-6733 I was wondering. Since TWS recognizes the potential impact that human can have on widlife through destruction of habitat and disturbance, why is the Society supporting Kinds legislation to increase access to public lands. New and improved roads, trails and human infrastructure on currently inaccesible land is going to destroy habitat, potentially introduce additonal non-native species and increase disturbance to wildlife. With all of the stess already put on wildlef and the additonal cliamte based stressors why do we want to increase non-cliamte related stressors.Frankly,the last thing we need to do is increase human access to pristine habitats. I was wondering. Since TWS recognizes the potential impact that human can have on widlife through destruction of habitat and disturbance, why is the Society supporting Kinds legislation to increase access to public lands. New and improved roads, trails and human infrastructure on currently inaccesible land is going to destroy habitat, potentially introduce additonal non-native species and increase disturbance to wildlife. With all of the stess already put on wildlef and the additonal cliamte based stressors why do we want to increase non-cliamte related stressors.Frankly,the last thing we need to do is increase human access to pristine habitats.

]]> Comment on Bear Hunt Moves Forward in New Jersey by Feral Facts http://wildlifeprofessional.org/blog/?p=2552&cpage=1#comment-6731 Feral Facts Wed, 01 Sep 2010 03:09:11 +0000 http://wildlifeprofessional.org/blog/?p=2552#comment-6731 Ironic is the fact that animal rights groups want non-lethal methods used like public education that focuses on properly containing trash and not making food available for bears, yet they endorse subsidizing feral cats through TNR - all that food dumped outside. Go figure. All those dollars spent on bear education, yet some municipalities where bears frequent have legal TNR. Ironic is the fact that animal rights groups want non-lethal methods used like public education that focuses on properly containing trash and not making food available for bears, yet they endorse subsidizing feral cats through TNR – all that food dumped outside. Go figure. All those dollars spent on bear education, yet some municipalities where bears frequent have legal TNR.

]]> Comment on Surprise! More Scary Diseases Associated with Feral Cats by Feral Facts http://wildlifeprofessional.org/blog/?p=2547&cpage=1#comment-6730 Feral Facts Wed, 01 Sep 2010 02:49:51 +0000 http://wildlifeprofessional.org/blog/?p=2547#comment-6730 The Monster inside people: http://animal.discovery.com/invertebrates/monsters-inside-me/toxoplasma-gondii-toxoplasmosis/ The Monster inside people:

http://animal.discovery.com/invertebrates/monsters-inside-me/toxoplasma-gondii-toxoplasmosis/

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I have to commend the creator of this site – you did a terrific job….

]]> Comment on Did Photographer Cause Yellowstone Grizzly Attack? by EasyLifeTerm.com http://wildlifeprofessional.org/blog/?p=2485&cpage=1#comment-6727 EasyLifeTerm.com Sat, 28 Aug 2010 19:30:12 +0000 http://wildlifeprofessional.org/blog/?p=2485#comment-6727 Great blog. Thanks for the information in this article. I just watched a video of a man chasing a grizzly bear in the Yukon with a video camera; I thought I would pass it on to you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_WR2B_5OQY Great blog. Thanks for the information in this article. I just watched a video of a man chasing a grizzly bear in the Yukon with a video camera; I thought I would pass it on to you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_WR2B_5OQY

]]> Comment on Whitehouse Downplays Dire Consequences of BP Oil Spill by Reggie Greene / The Logistician http://wildlifeprofessional.org/blog/?p=2543&cpage=1#comment-6724 Reggie Greene / The Logistician Fri, 27 Aug 2010 03:58:59 +0000 http://wildlifeprofessional.org/blog/?p=2543#comment-6724 In discussing the BP oil spill on our blog, someone commented that “responsibility” requires that a corporation tell the truth. Out of curiosity, should a corporation tell the truth when it would help plaintiffs in lawsuits against the corporation recover more damages which would adversely affect the corporation’s bottom line, or is this an instance where lying is justified? In discussing the BP oil spill on our blog, someone commented that “responsibility” requires that a corporation tell the truth. Out of curiosity, should a corporation tell the truth when it would help plaintiffs in lawsuits against the corporation recover more damages which would adversely affect the corporation’s bottom line, or is this an instance where lying is justified?

]]> Comment on “Green Cats”?: Feral Cat Advocates Launch New Campaign to Deceive the Public by Michael Hutchins http://wildlifeprofessional.org/blog/?p=2522&cpage=1#comment-6723 Michael Hutchins Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:36:08 +0000 http://wildlifeprofessional.org/blog/?p=2522#comment-6723 JB: I agree that control of feral cats is like treating the symptoms rather than the disease. We most definitely do need laws that keep pet felids inside and that allow managers to use all the tools at their disposal to remove cats from our environment. But, even if we were to stop the dumping of pet cats at managed colonies, these animals are still outdoors and free to kill everything they get their paws on. If AR and cat advocate organizations were willing to foot the bill to manage these colonies indoors, I would be fine with that. Of course, any that are left outdoors would then be subject to lethal control. In addition, that doesn't take into consideration the amount of cat food that would be needed to feed these animals for the remainder of their lifetimes--also a major environmental problem. By the way vaccination can help, but is not effective for some diseases carried by cats that can affect wildlife or humans. And good luck vaccinating them all. JB: I agree that control of feral cats is like treating the symptoms rather than the disease. We most definitely do need laws that keep pet felids inside and that allow managers to use all the tools at their disposal to remove cats from our environment. But, even if we were to stop the dumping of pet cats at managed colonies, these animals are still outdoors and free to kill everything they get their paws on. If AR and cat advocate organizations were willing to foot the bill to manage these colonies indoors, I would be fine with that. Of course, any that are left outdoors would then be subject to lethal control. In addition, that doesn’t take into consideration the amount of cat food that would be needed to feed these animals for the remainder of their lifetimes–also a major environmental problem. By the way vaccination can help, but is not effective for some diseases carried by cats that can affect wildlife or humans. And good luck vaccinating them all.

]]> Comment on “Green Cats”?: Feral Cat Advocates Launch New Campaign to Deceive the Public by JB http://wildlifeprofessional.org/blog/?p=2522&cpage=1#comment-6722 JB Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:40:31 +0000 http://wildlifeprofessional.org/blog/?p=2522#comment-6722 Michael: For the most part I agree with you. However, I would point out that trapped animals are also easily immunized for diseases common in a particular area (which, given adequate coverage, would theoretically help create herd immunity). So the disease side of the issue could be addressed. Regardless, when I used the word "irrelevant" I met that neither TNR nor lethal control addresses the fundamental problem: the dumping of unwanted pets. In either case you are simply treating a symptom--not the cause. Until we start addressing the cause, we will continue to have too many feral cats and a whole lot of dead song birds. When I said I'm pragmatic it means that I recognize that communities might not always be willing to fund the most effective method (either because of expense or social acceptability). In those cases it behooves us to be creative and think about how we could adapt methods or use multiple methods in conjuncture to the particular scenario. It seems to me that TNR and lethal control both tend to elicit dogmatic, as opposed to pragmatic, responses from the public and wildlife managers alike. Michael:

For the most part I agree with you. However, I would point out that trapped animals are also easily immunized for diseases common in a particular area (which, given adequate coverage, would theoretically help create herd immunity). So the disease side of the issue could be addressed.

Regardless, when I used the word “irrelevant” I met that neither TNR nor lethal control addresses the fundamental problem: the dumping of unwanted pets. In either case you are simply treating a symptom–not the cause. Until we start addressing the cause, we will continue to have too many feral cats and a whole lot of dead song birds.

When I said I’m pragmatic it means that I recognize that communities might not always be willing to fund the most effective method (either because of expense or social acceptability). In those cases it behooves us to be creative and think about how we could adapt methods or use multiple methods in conjuncture to the particular scenario.

It seems to me that TNR and lethal control both tend to elicit dogmatic, as opposed to pragmatic, responses from the public and wildlife managers alike.

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