Action needed: deer cull planned, sample message to send.

From Facebook | Loredana, Julie

BACKGROUND

I have just read in my local newspaper that there is a deer cull happening RIGHT NOW in Ancaster:

Dundas Valley closed over hunting issue

For those that don’t know, Ancaster is town just outside Hamilton, Ontario. There is an extensive Conservation Park with forests filled with beautiful wildlife including deer. I grew up here and have been hiking through this park since I was a child. These deer have never been hunted! I am always amazed at how tame the deer are. They are so accustomed to people that they have very little fear and hardly ever even run away!  They have no chance!

The local “authorities” have brought in the natives from the Six Nations Haudenosaunee Confederacy who are going to be hunting down the deer with cross-bow from now until December 31st.

I am absolutely beside myself!   I am on my way to the conservation office now and then to the woods afterwards.

I have provided you with the article that I read in this morning’s newspaper and the email addressing and phone numbers of the conservation authority who made this decision to kill. If you have the time please please email (SAMPLE LETTER below), or call to let them know how you feel about the slaughter that is going on against these innocent animals who I have enjoyed my whole life! Thanks.

A Veterinarian’s Perspective on Bowhunting

Vodpod videos no longer available.

 

Wounded doe from bowhunting found in women’s property

Vodpod videos no longer available.

WHOM TO CONTACT

By Post:
Hamilton Conservation Authority
P.O. Box 81067
838 Mineral Springs Road
Ancaster, ON
L9G 4X1

By Phone: 905-525-2181 or 905-648-4427 | Business hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

By Fax: 905-648-4622

Main Office Phone Number: 905-525-2181 or 905-648-4427

WHERE TO SEND YOUR EMAILS | Copy/paste as a group, enter into your TO field, select return/enter. I have received FOUR invalids as of now but will keep them in due to host differences: nmcdougall@conservationhamilton.ca, robgray@conservationhamilton.ca, workshop@conservationhamilton.ca, abekendam@conservationhamilton.ca

nature@conservationhamilton.ca

aallan@conservationhamilton.ca

tradesrh@conservationhamilton.ca

gbalt@conservationhamilton.ca

acbell@conservationhamilton.ca

jbell@conservationhamilton.ca

abekendam@conservationhamilton.ca

ebereste@conservationhamilton.ca

tradesrh@conservationhamilton.ca

hbreton@conservationhamilton.ca

lburnsid@conservationhamilton.ca

jbutcher@conservationhamilton.ca

lcostie@conservationhamilton.ca

gcowsill@conservationhamilton.ca

celwell@conservationhamilton.ca

sfaulken@conservationhamilton.ca

sgauden@conservationhamilton.ca

robgray@conservationhamilton.ca

matthall@conservationhamilton.ca

nature@conservationhamilton.ca

rharvey@conservationhamilton.ca

thorvat@conservationhamilton.ca

workshop@conservationhamilton.ca

njamieso@conservationhamilton.ca

ljenning@conservationhamilton.ca

dkenny@conservationhamilton.ca

ekimbell@conservationhamilton.ca

clavende@conservationhamilton.ca

kleach@conservationhamilton.ca

tleong@conservationhamilton.ca

jlove@conservationhamilton.ca

bmackenz@conservationhamilton.ca

dmallory@conservationhamilton.ca

tmartel@conservationhamilton.ca

dmcconne@conservationhamilton.ca

nmcdougall@conservationhamilton.ca

kmenyes@conservationhamilton.ca

smiazga@conservationhamilton.ca

cmmurray@conservationhamilton.ca

anizhara@conservationhamilton.ca

soneal@conservationhamilton.ca

porvidas@conservationhamilton.ca

jovery@conservationhamilton.ca

ppaetkau@conservationhamilton.ca

iparon@conservationhamilton.ca

vpazzi@conservationhamilton.ca

pragaz@conservationhamilton.ca

srichard@conservationhamilton.ca

fsalib@conservationhamilton.ca

nwatts@conservationhamilton.ca

swinning@conservationhamilton.ca

kwithers@conservationhamilton.ca

rwoodwor@conservationhamilton.ca

 

SAMPLE LETTER | Please modify and shorten

To Whom It Concerns,

I am shocked to learn of the Dundas Valley deer slaughter as precipitated by an “overpopulation and ceremonial” assertion and respectfully request this cease immediately.  Please allow me to elaborate.  Ecologically, deer populations will fluctuate according to conditions and naturally-occurring food sources; it is the interference of humans that causes “imbalance” as defined by those with inhumane motives. To blame and slaughter the deer for human encroachment is both irresponsible and unjustified. Second, killing deer artificially increases food supplies to the remaining deer, the consequence of which is increased reproduction and an ensuing larger herd populations in subsequent years. In fact, studies have demonstrated that this rebound effect is the direct result of the continual cycle of seasonal hunting.

Third, it is my understanding that these victims will be potentially used as part of “ceremonies”.  While I would never embrace such an egotistical belief that my opinions take precedent over established and sacred customs, any “tradition”, however, that is built on a foundation of animal cruelty, exploitation, and suffering, and which inflicts pain and fear on innocent, sentient animals, is neither justified, nor an expression of historical or cultural pride. There can be no honor amongst those who condemn animals to such depraved actions substantiating my disturbance that such animal cruelty is perpetuated by the inaccurate conviction that this particular ritual demands bloody slaughter.

The intention to cause the deliberate suffering and death of living beings is not factually justified. It is also not morally justified: animals are sentient creatures, capable of love, fear, pain, and suffering. As humans do, animals experience these emotions and have the desire to live free from exploitation and mass slaughter. The fact that you disregard and devalue the deer lives does not mean the deer value their lives any less; in fact, they value living as much as you and I, and to capriciously decide to brutally, unjustly, and violently kill them is undeniably cruel and socially risky.

As intelligent people capable of sound conclusions, you should recognize the importance of life over the lies and exaggerations of unscrupulous or misinformed people. Additionally, aside from negatively affecting community members, this type of mass killing would certainly adversely affect both visitation and tourism; it would be financially detrimental to continue with such a cruel and unnecessary killing.  In fact, I am aware of public relation disaster as the result of such a hasty, barbaric demonstration of animal cruelty as has been illustrated during a similar deer cull.

Please watch the following videos; is this the type of activity with which you want to be associated?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbF8xPWRxg4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgA1iD0dhvg&feature=related

I ask that you reconsider your participation in this cruel plan and instead adopt non-lethal alternatives, which have been proven successful.

Non-Violent Human-Deer Conflict Resolution | http://www.all-creatures.org/hope/DOE/index.htm

I know your time is limited and I want to thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

NAME

See More …

• Animal Wrongs
• Compassion

ancaster this is not holiday cheer
slaughtering your innocent
citizen deer
put down those rifles
go find a heart
living creatures are not
mere trifles,
who lives are for naught
please find compassion
and reason
in this holiest
of seasons

Karen Lyons Kalmenson