Wackos Get Organized Against Dismal Swamp Bear Hunt
As noted in an earlier post out here Virginia is having a limited draw hunt for bear permits in the Dismal Swamp. 100 permits were drawn but only 20 bears will be taken. Today’s News and Observer has a story about how the wacko’s have started a letter and petition campaign to get the hunt canceled.
Two animal rights groups have launched a campaign to cancel a black bear hunt in the Great Dismal Swamp scheduled for Friday and Saturday.
In Defense of Animals and the Animal Welfare Institute argue that the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, on the Virginia-North Carolina border, did a shoddy job of studying the refuge’s bear population, upon which the hunt is based.
“The foundation for the hunt is extraordinarily fragile,” said D.J. Schubert, a wildlife biologist with the Animal Welfare Institute.
The number of bears killed is capped at 20. One hundred hunters selected in a lottery can participate. Each paid $50 for the privilege.
“The only reason to allow the slaughter is to appease a small minority who take pride and pleasure in killing defenseless animals, and it’s just not right,” said Kristie Phelps, a member of In Defense of Animals.
The groups have started a letter-writing campaign and petition online.
As the population of any animal expands towards the capacity of the land population controls must be taken. Hunting is still the most effective and traditional method to keep animals in check. I’ll keep you posted on the hunt and what if any impact the wacko’s have on it.
[...] Despite the last minute efforts of Animal Rights Groups the hunt will take place. In an earlier post I told you about the letter writing campaign and petetion that they engaged in to sidetrack the hunt. John Stasko, a refuge supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said the department will review the letter but go forward with the hunt. He said the department followed federal law and has provided information to the groups regarding its environmental assessment studies. [...]
Pingback by Moose Droppings » The Dismal Swamp Hunt is a Go — November 30, 2006 @ 12:33 am
I hope they continue to allow the hunt and also expand it to include Southampton County. The bears have ben coming this way for years and there are more here than in the swamp. It will not be long before there is a tragic confrontation. In fact this has already happened with the outcome of the bear being killed and not harvested because the shooter was afraid of prosecution.
Comment by Jeff Turner — February 12, 2008 @ 7:28 pm