Raising Awareness Of Wildlife Issues

To the Editor:

We would like to announce the formation of WildlifeEducationCoalition.org and invite Newtown residents to join our humane education efforts.

WildlifeEducationCoalition.org is dedicated to resolving human-wildlife conflicts through education and scientifically based action plans. Our organization was formed in response to the proposed plan to perform an annual mass slaughter of deer that involves baiting and then shooting a large number of animals on open space and private land, as part of a strategy for reducing Lyme disease.

In communities where such programs have been instituted, deer are baited and shot with arrows or guns over a several-week period. The culls are then repeated each year, generally on increasing numbers of land tracts. In some communities, the hunting season has been extended into April to allow for more deer to be killed.

The evidence from the many towns that have instituted “bait and shoot” programs fails to support the claim that killing deer does anything to reduce Lyme disease. One comprehensive study in New Jersey showed that after three seasons of a “bait and shoot” program for deer, there was no apparent reduction in tick populations or incidence of Lyme disease.

We recognize Lyme and other tick-borne diseases are a serious problem, and we are dedicated to working with the community and town officials to find a science-based solution for reducing these diseases in Newtown. However, the proposed “bait and shoot” plan offers virtually no prospect of solving the problem — and to learn why, we encourage you to visit our website www.WildlifeEducationCoalition.org.

We also oppose the initiation of “bait and shoot” programs on open space land. We would rather encounter a deer on open space land while hiking with our family, walking our dogs, or riding our horses than hunters who have been brought in for the annual kills; or, worse, encounter a deer or other animal that has been shot but only wounded.

We oppose any spending of tax dollars on a costly deer “bait and shoot” program which many citizens oppose and will not benefit all residents equally, particularly given the current fiscal crisis that our community faces.

WildlifeEducationCoalition.org was formed with the intent of bringing these issues to the attention of a larger number of people, and most important, to encourage an informed, respectful, and rational public discussion of the issues that potentially affect the lives of a large number of people and animals living in Newtown.

In the few short weeks since we launched our website, we have experienced a groundswell of support, and over 50 people have already committed to working with us. We invite you to join our efforts to find workable, science-based solutions to human-wildlife conflicts in Newtown. Visit us today at www.WildlifeEducationCoalition.org

Sincerely,

Adria Henderson

5 Indian Trail, Southbury                                          January 28, 2009