Changes in Leadership Good For Grand Haven Wildlife
Congratulations to John Hierholzer on being elected to the GH City Council. Many appreciated his work on the cemetery board, particularly his rejection of shooting or killing of any kind taking place within/on those sacred grounds. Many residents and non-residents alike, have loved ones buried at Lake Forest Cemetery. The conflict with the deer in our area is a social tolerance issue - not one of biological carrying capacity. Sara Schaefer, the DNR Supervisor for SW MI has told our members - and others many times, that there are not too many deer in GH. In fact, if left alone, the herd(s) will adjust to its environment and stabilize. When you begin culling deer, compensatory rebound is triggered. This is caused by fewer deer for the available food supply. This increase in food supply, versus the number of deer, triggers the doe to have more babies and to have them younger.
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Shot For A Tulip
Members of the media:
A document was received via FOIA from the USDA regarding the killing of deer in the City of Grand Haven. On more than one occasion, those demanding that deer die, have tried to frame their reasons as NOT being about flowers. This is categorically untrue. From the start this has been about shooting deer over the tulips of the few affluent people who choose to live in the wooded dunes. People who refuse to get on board with deer-proofing yet build or buy their homes in deer habitat. Regarding safety, last winter, the APHIS sharpshooters determined they could not safely use high power weapons in Mulligan's Hollow. The Hollow has many entrances through the woods, is not fenced, includes a dog park and is surrounded by houses. This past Fall, these "experts" were told to disregard their own safety judgment and shoot there anyway. 21 deer were killed on 11/5/09 alone (
see document) in the very area they felt uncomfortable discharging their high power weapons. Was it the Public Safety Dept of Grand Haven who overrode the sharpshooters’ expert opinion of safety?
Living With Coyotes
Every few years there is an article in the paper regarding coyotes. The GH Tribune did a good job recently of not sensationalizing the animal's presence. Unlike 2 years ago when they chose the headline "Coyotes Invading Grand Haven." Nik Kalesj from the DNR did a good job as well, telling people the coyote has always been here, is a critical part of our ecosystem and is generally not a problem. This
document is one they hand out in Bloomfield Township, MI and the URL/web address for the article can be found at: http://www.bloomfieldtwp.org/Services/Police/Coyotes.htm. The more pressure that is placed on the coyote population, the more they will be urged to survive and they will reproduce more often than once per year. This is because coyotes will reproduce MORE if they feel threatened.
Read MoreSt. Joe, MI is to be applauded for dealing with coyotes in a humane manner. They are live trapping them and releasing them in rural areas.
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DNR Reminds Public to Leave Wildlife in the Wild
As wildlife birthing season proceeds in the spring, it is not unusual for people to come across seemingly abandoned fawns or other baby critters. The first instinct many people have is to try and help. Department of Natural Resources wildlife personnel offer a word of advice: DON'T. The truth is, the animal doesn't need help.
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Stop the Culling Madness - Save GH Deer!
Call or e-mail the Grand Haven City Council at the addresses below. The GH City Council plans to cull again as soon as 09/01/09 which could orphan nursing fawns. See tribune article at the following link.
Just like the last time when the deer task force recommendations were ignored before deer were killed, they have voted to cull again by a vote of 4-1. If the cull date is as early as September, many fawns will be orphaned. This is despite the fact that no study has been conducted as to the effects of the last cull.
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