Nonprofit Org. C.A.S.H. COMMITTEE TO ABOLISH SPORT HUNTING U.S. Postage WILDLIFE WATCH, INC. Paid Newburgh, NY THE C.A.S.H. COURIER PO Box 562 Permit No. 450 New Paltz, NY 12561 THE COMMITTEE TO ABOLISH SPORT HUNTING Phone: (845) 256-1400 Fax: (845) 818-3622 DIVISION OF ILDLIFE ATCH NC www.wildwatch.org A W W , I . www.all-creatures.org/cash © 2008 BY WILDLIFE WATCH, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. www.canadageese.org WINTER 2008 TO OUR WONDERFUL MEMBER: MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of C.A.S.H. - Committee to What Will Happen to the White Abolish Sport Hunting - is to accomplish what its name says in the shortest possible time. Understanding that Deer at the Seneca Army Depot? abolishing hunting entails a process, a series of steps taken and not a single BY PETER MULLER action that would effect our goal over- th night, a time frame cannot be estab- On Thursday, December 13 2007 in close to white-out snow-storm-conditions, lished. We hope for building a succes- about 100 Seneca (NY) County residents braved the elements and crowded into sion of wins, and if not wins immedi- the small Varick Town Hall. They were joined there by Rita and Joe Sarnicola ately then at least a succession of from nearby Auburn, NY, Anne and Peter Muller from Wildlife Watch, as well as stirrings of consciousness. We hope to encourage those who are still silent to several other animal protection groups. speak out, awakening community after What brought this large group to a small town in New York State on that day? community about the heavy hand of The answer to that question started about 65 years ago. The US Army needed state and federal wildlife management an ammunitions depot in the area. To establish such a depot, the army seized agencies. We hope to alter whatever belief still exists that sport hunters are over10,000 acres of farmland near conservationists and champions of the Seneca Falls by right of eminent environment to a realization that they are domain. During WW II the depot destroyers of wildlife and ecosystems in was used to store, maintain and the narrow and broad sense. Where the natural feeling for wildlife doesn’t exist, supply ammunition to army units C.A.S.H. CATALOG ORDER BLANK we strive to engender among citizens around the world. The exact outrage that their own rights are violated function of the base after WW II DESCRIPTION QTY $ EACH $ TOTAL Your Name: ________________________ by legal hunting and their quality-of-life has been subject to much diminished. Street: ____________________________ speculation –each speculative guess has been neither confirmed City: ________________ Luke A. Dommer was the founder of the Committee to Abolish Sport Hunting. He was nor denied by the Army. State: ___________ Zip: _____________ its president from 1976 until his passing in Whatever the use of the base, August 1992. Mr. Dommer’s research and this much is known with certainty: Day Phone: ________________________ publications served as the foundation for the Eve Phone: _________________________ anti-hunting movement. He remains, through The army enclosed the entire this organization, an invaluable and dedicated area with 24 miles of 12-foot high Fax: __________________ warrior in the battle to save wild animals, the fencing. A herd of deer was environment, and general public from the E-Mail: ____________ silent economy that encourages and preys on entrapped within that space. White Deer with White Fawn Photo by Leland Brun the passion of a few to kill the wildlife that White-tailed deer have a Subtotal: __________ Date: __________________ belongs to all. recessive gene that can turn their coat white in color instead of brown. In nature, Shipping and Handling: __________$4.00 Special Instructions: __________________ Wildlife Watch Inc. the recessive gene is rare among deer and the chance of a fawn receiving two Additional S&H for Games: __________$5.00 __________________________________ a 501(c)3 Not-for-Profit Corporation. white-color genes, one from each parent, is even rarer. That is why, although NYS residents must add appropriate sales tax: __________ Contributions are tax-deductible. Ship to address below (if different from white deer (who are not albinos) have been known to occur — such white deer Additional contribution to help C.A.S.H. have always been subject to awe and legends. In cultures around the world – from C.A.S.H. carry on its work: __________ above): PO Box 562 New Paltz, NY 12561 Celtic to Native American to Asian there have been stories and myths told about Total: __________ _____________________________________________ 845-256-1400 - Phone white deer. Fax - 845-501-3016 The herd enclosed in Seneca Depot evidently had more than the normal share of You can now pay with: _____________________________________________ e-mail: [email protected] Mastercard/Visa # ________________________ the white-color recessive genes. Since the herd has been inbreeding for over 65 _____________________________________________ Anne Muller - Editor years that trait surfaced. Today there are an estimated 200-300 white colored Expir. Date: _____________ E.M. Fay, Assoc. Editor deer in the herd of about 700 animals. Many of the brown-colored deer also carry Signature: __________________________________ Robert Greenough - Desktop Publishing the recessive white-color gene. www.wildwatch.org www.all-creatures.org/cash Please make checks payable to: C.A.S.H. or Wildlife Watch, Inc. Please see White Deer Story, Page 2 PAGE 2THE C.A.S.H. COURIER / WILDLIFE WATCH WINTER 2008 What Is Immunocontraception? As immunocontraception will no doubt or anywhere else. I merely convey facts, dissembling. First, he makes no distinction longevity of the treated horses by more come up as a method of keeping the white data, and scientifically-supported between urban/suburban deer and rural than 10 years (see Kirkpatrick and Turner deer population in check in Seneca Falls, NY, conclusions. Urban and suburban deer deer and the contraceptive technology, 2002. J. Reprod. Fert. (Suppl. 60): 197- we thank Dr. Priscilla Cohn for giving us problems are local issues and it is not my which was developed only for deer herds 202; Kirkpatrick and Turner 2007. Zoo permission to reprint the following letter by domain to advocate any management where traditional management methods Biol. 25:1-8), nor have any behavioral the world renowned scientist in approach outside my home city here in are not deemed legal, wise, safe or publicly changes been noted (see Powell 1999. J. immunocontraception, Dr. Jay Kirkpatrick. Billings. The Tyler deer are someone else’s acceptable. The failure to make this clear Appl. Anim. Welfare Sci. 2:321-335) nor It was written in response to a letter by the deer and someone else is responsible for at the outset pits the hunting community have there been any deleterious Pennsylvania Game Commission in which decisions about their management. against the broad concept of management physiological changes regarding the ovary they criticized the “sterilization” of deer. The Second, I do not deal in opinions. I deal by contraception. or endocrine system (see Kirkpatrick et al. letter appeared in the Bucks County Courier only in facts, derived from controlled …Let’s examine the safety issue just a 1995. Biol. Reprod. Monograph Series I: Times written by Jerry Feaser, Press Secy. studies, appropriate analysis and peer- little bit more. The vaccine has been used Equine Reproduction VI: 411-418; Powell Due to space limitations, we are printing reviewed published data. With that stated, on the wild horses of Assateague Island and Monfort 2001. J. Appl. Anim. Welfare excerpts. For the full article, please visit let’s examine the article’s salient points. National Seashore, in Maryland, for 18 Sci. 4:271-284) I could go on, and cite www.pzpinfo.org To begin with, “sterilization” is an years now, and what safety issues have dozens of other papers regarding the use inaccurate and misleading term. arisen? Well, first, the body condition and safety of this vaccine in other species I shall respond...(to Feaser’s letter on Contraception, which is what the debate scores of the population have increased (some 50 of them, including a lot of “sterilization.” ) That said, or written, is all about, is reversible fertility inhibition, significantly (see Turner and Kirkpatrick. primates) but I think the point is made. please keep in mind that journalism but not sterilization. Spaying is sterilization; 2002. Reproduction. (Suppl. 60):187- Finally, the vaccine is a protein and ninth regarding this subject has been, for a neutering is sterilization, but condoms, 195), mortality has decreased significantly grade biology students who are paying decade or more, embarrassingly shabby, pills, diaphragms, IUDs, and (same paper), the vaccine has proven to attention in class know that proteins can’t inaccurate and misleading and for the immunocontraception (vaccines) are be safe to give to pregnant animals (see pass through the food chain. Does this all most part reflects a lot of passionate reversible and by definition, Kirkpatrick et al. 1991. J. Reprod. Fert. sound unsafe? opinions and theories but little of factual contraception. The paper’s editors, and (Suppl. 44) 321-325), doesn’t cause Next. Mr. Feaser tackles the economic substance. both authors should be more careful changes in seasonal birth patterns or the dimensions of deer contraception. He At the outset, I would like to make two about their use of inaccurate terms. health of foals born to treated mothers (see quotes a figure of $1,000 per deer. The points clear. First, I do not advocate the Mr. Feaser’s letter is a masterpiece of Kirklpatrick et al. J. Appl. Anim. Welfare cost of the vaccine is $21/dose (we, by law, use of contraception for deer, at Tyler Park hyperbole, misinformation and Sci.